Which action should police take when referring the victim to community support services?

When referring a victim to community support services, it is crucial for police to ensure that the victim's anonymity is protected. This is essential for a variety of reasons. Firstly, protecting the victim's identity encourages them to seek help without the fear of being publicly identified, which can be particularly important in sensitive cases such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or related incidents. Secondly, maintaining confidentiality fosters trust between the victim and the authorities as well as the support services, allowing victims to feel safe in seeking assistance and disclosing personal information necessary for their recovery. Moreover, ensuring anonymity respects the victim's privacy rights and can prevent potential stigma or harassment associated with being a victim of a crime. Thus, protecting the victim’s anonymity is a fundamental responsibility of law enforcement when guiding them towards available support resources.