Witness Information
Information for Victims and Witnesses: If you are likely to be called as a witness to give evidence you can get a preview here of what will happen at your local court:
- Luton Magistrates Court
- Bedford Magistrates Court
- Luton Crown Court
- Bedfordshire's two Witness Care Units provide specialist services
- The Witness Service gives help and support on the day when you come to court
- Victim Support, Bedfordshire provides advice and support to victims of crime
- The national Victims Code sets out how victims and witnesses should be treated.
Bedfordshire Witness Care
Bedfordshire's Witness Care Units in Luton and Bedford provide a single point of contact for victims and witnesses, so they are kept informed of the progress of their case from the outset. This begins with the police investigation, continues through the court process, and to the result at the end of the trial. Witness Care Officers also provide practical help and support to victims and witnesses on an individual basis - for example, they may help arrange child care for a witness attending court, find an interpreter, or resolve any transport problems which might prevent the witness getting to court.
An assessment of the needs of each victim and witness is drawn up when they first make a statement to police, and this is passed to the Witness Care Unit. Crown Prosecution Service lawyers must also now ensure that the needs of the victim are considered at an early stage when the prosecution puts together its legal case. Witness Care Officers keep the victim informed of progress in the case. When the case comes to court the witness will be offered any additonal support that has been identified. When the case finishes are informed of the final outcome.
The Witness Care Unit sends all victims and witnesses, who have been asked to attend court, a DVD called ‘Going to Court’, which is a step by step guide to being a victim or witness. This is available in Welsh, Welsh with subtitles, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and British Sign Language (BSL) and has proven to provide help and reassurance to first time victims and witnesses.
Witness Care Officers in Bedfordshire work alongside the Witness Service. This is a voluntary agency, which is part of Victim Support Bedfordshire. Its specially trained staff are available to help and support the witness when they are called to give evidence at court. They can arrange for the witness to visit court prior to attending, so that they are familiar with the surroundings, and they will guide and support the witness through their attendance on the day to give evidence at court.