VICTIMS of crime will benefit from new projects in Dorset funded by a £300,000 government grant.

Projects put forward for funding by Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill include mental health outreach workers, support for child victims of serious sexual offences, extra services for men and women suffering domestic abuse, and specialist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender hate crime case workers.

Mr Underhill said: “This will see a real improvement in victim care and help us to fill in the gaps where provision is lacking. For example, we will now be able to offer courses to male victims of domestic abuse and specialist counselling to child victims of domestic abuse.

“That is really exciting and will make a positive difference to many people’s lives.”

The funding is derived from victim surcharges paid by offenders nationally, and income from fines.