Cap. 539 ст. 13Support services.

(1) Victim support services provided under article 12

shall, in assessing the specific needs of victims who have suffered considerable harm due to the severity of the crime and in proceedings: Provided that family members shall have access to victim support services as provided in article 12 in accordance with their needs and the degree of harm suffered as a result of the criminal offence committed against the victim:

Provided that the victim as defined in article 2 and residing within the territory of Malta, shall be given all the assistance and support as provided under this article even though the offence was committed in another Member State of the European Union.

(2) Upon receiving a complaint by a person that the said person is a victim of a crime, any authority shall, upon becoming aware of this fact and without any undue delay, refer the victim to victim support services.

(3) Where necessary, victim support services shall include free of charge, easily accessible and confidential specialist support services and nothing shall preclude victim support organisations to call on existing specialised entities providing such specialist support. Victims shall have access to such services in accordance with their specific needs and family members shall have access in accordance with their specific needs and the degree of harm suffered as a result of the criminal offence committed against the victim.

(4) Access to any victim support service as provided under this Act shall not be dependent on a victim making a formal complaint with regard to a criminal offence to a competent authority.