Hertfordshire's police and crime commissioner says a victims of crime survey in the county will remain open permanently.

The Victims’ Voice consultation was launched by commissioner David Lloyd to learn more about the service provided to victims in the county and what could be improved.

In its first two months, almost 400 responses to the online and telephone questionnaire were received.

The feedback is being used to help shape a new victims’ service in the county, which will be launched in April this year when the commissioner takes over the £1.26 million victims’ services budget from central Government.

The survey was due to close before the unveiling of the new service but because of the positive response the commissioner has decided to keep the survey open on an on-going basis.

Mr Lloyd said: "Victim input is a vital cog in my strategy to create a more victim-centred criminal justice system in the county.

"The new arrangements will be made-to-measure for victims of crime in Hertfordshire rather than a one-size-fits-all approach that we’ve had up to now."

Commenting on the responses, Mr Lloyd added: "Some respondents indicated that they had not reported the crime to police and while I would always urge people to report offences, I am grateful that they still chose to take part in the survey. We’ve long known that a proportion of crimes go unreported however my aim is to represent all victims of crime whether it was reported or not, and I want the new service to reflect that."

To take part in Victims’ Voice complete the online survey via www.victimsvoice-herts.info or call 0800 999 7499 (free from most landlines) to take part in an automated telephone survey.

Hard copies of the questionnaire can be requested from the commissioner’s office by calling 01707 806100 or by writing to police and crime commissioner for Hertfordshire, Harpenden Police Station, 15 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4GZ.