England: CPS survey sees demand for greater victim and witness protections in court

Victims and witnesses in England and Wales are to be given the chance to give evidence behind courtroom screens following research that suggests almost half of all victims express reservations about giving evidence at trials.

A survey commissioned by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) found that victims were highly dissatisfied with the current system.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Alison Saunders has promised better information on the outcome of cases as well as better support in court.

She made the promises in a response to the survey which queried 7,000 people who have given evidence or who were victims of crimes.

About two-thirds of victims and three-quarters of witnesses, however, were satisfied with the service they received from the CPS.

Thirty per cent of domestic abuse victims, however, believed they were not fully prepared for cross-examination.

Additionally, significant numbers of victims and witnesses remain oblivious to the outcomes of cases they were involved in, with a mere 38 per cent of victims and 29 per cent of witnesses aware an offender had pleaded or been found guilty.

Other figures are also revealing, with only 52 per cent of victims saying they would go through a trial again.

Thirty-nine per cent said their participation would depend on the case while nine per cent responded it was “not likely” they would participate.

Sixty per cent of witnesses said they would cooperate at a future trial and only five per cent said they would be unlikely to do so.

Those surveyed most often called for screens around the witness box, video links, pre-recorded statements and that the public gallery be emptied as protection measures.

A number of pilot programmes will commence next month at magistrates and crown courts in Sheffield and Liverpool and another location where junior lawyers and paralegals will be used to reassure victims and witnesses.

The Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC MP, said: “I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the pilots and hope the plans will be rolled out nationally if a success.”