Victims & Witnesses Practitioners' Forum
Putting victims and witnesses at the heart of the criminal justice system was the aim of a special workshop, organised by the Cambridgeshire Criminal Justice Board.
Representatives from the Police, Youth Offending Service, Crown Prosecution Service, Victim Support and Witness Services, the Courts, Probation and Prisons met in Hemingford on March 19.
The Victims & Witnesses Practitioners’ Forum, the first of its kind in Cambridgeshire, was a major success, board manager Julian Eales said.
“It was extremely useful for people from the various agencies to meet and discuss their involvement with victims and witnesses.”
Speakers included Duncan Prime from the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Police Detective Superintendent Jeff Hill and Anthea Dodson, Head of the Criminal Justice Unit at Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
Many groundbreaking initiatives have been recently put in place to assist Cambridgeshire victims and witnesses throughout their journeys along the justice system.
These include the creation of a special Domestic Violence Court in Peterborough and the setting up of the intermediary scheme throughout the county to help give a voice to vulnerable victims.
Video recorded statements, previously only available to children and vulnerable adult witnesses, have been extended to adult sexual offence victims in the Crown Court. A Victims' Surcharge is now being applied to court fines to help fund victims’ services.
During the March forum, justice practitioners discussed further ways of improving justice for those affected by crime, either directly or indirectly.
Mr Eales said: “It’s never pleasant to be a victim or witness of crime but by working together, we’re aiming to improve their experiences of the justice system and working towards delivering an excellent service at every stage of the process.”
The forum provided great networking opportunities for
practitioners working with victims and witnesses.
Board manager Julian Eales introduced the forum.
Acting head of diversity at Cambridgeshire Constabulary,
Inspector Marcia Nichols, took part in the forum.