Victims and Witnesses
Witness Charter
The Witness Charter tells you how you can expect to be treated by:
- the police, if you are a witness to a crime or incident; and
- other criminal justice agencies and lawyers, if you are asked to give evidence for the prosecution or defence in a criminal court.
The Witness Charter also sets out what help and support you can expect to receive at every stage of the process from all the agencies and lawyers involved. The standards of service set out in the Witness Charter apply to all witnesses, regardless of whether you are also the victim. If you are also a victim of a crime, you have rights that are set out in full in the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime. For further information please click here.
Witness Care Units
In response to feedback from victims and witnesses asking for greater support during their cases witness care units (WCU) are being developed throughout the country. These new units with specially trained witness care staff from both Cheshire Police and CPS Cheshire have now been set up to meet the needs of victims and witnesses. If you are a victim or witness, you can expect to be treated sensitively and with respect by the criminal justice system. The first Northwest Witness Care Units were officially opened in Chester as part of a National launch by the Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith and Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy on 25 February 2005. The three units are based at Chester, Crewe and Warrington and staff at the units work hard to make sure that they keep you informed about what is happening with the investigation into your case, as well as letting you know about the support services that are available to you
- When taking a witness statement, police officers will complete an initial needs assessment of the victim or witness. This will identify any specific needs that the victim or witness might have, assess the willingness to attend court and establish the preferred means of contact (letter, mobile phone etc)
- At the point of charge the prosecution lawyer will use the information in the needs assessment form to inform their charging decision, ensure that the police officer has considered witness needs and trigger the provision of tailored support e.g referral to a relevant support group such as victim support and the witness service
- The witness care units will manage the needs of victim and witnesses from the point of charge providing information at key stages throughout the criminal justice process
- Once the case proceeds to trial the witness care units will explore witness needs and any reason why they might not want to give evidence. The WCU will discuss practical issues as well as issues around intimidation and will arrange pre-court familiarisation via the witness service.
- Witnesses will be informed of the outcome of the case and thanked for their involvement
Along with the services and support already available from independent organisations such as Victim Support, the Witness Care Units will improve the experience that witnesses and victims go through during the criminal justice process.
Vulnerable or Intimidated Victims or Witnesses
For victims or witnesses who are vulnerable and intimidated it may be possible for a range of special measures to be put into place to assist them to give evidence in court:
- Screens so that the witness does not see the defendant
- Video recorded evidence - allowing video recorded police interview to be shown as the witness' evidence
- Live TV link allowing a witness to give evidence from outside the court
- Clearing the court gallery - so that evidence can be given in private Removal of wigs and gowns in the Crown Court
- Intermediaries - to provide communication between the witness, legal representatives and the court
- Video recorded pre-trial cross examination
- Allowing a witness to use communication aids (e.g alphabet board)