New plan to combat courtroom stress
New proposals designed to make it easier for victims and witnesses to give evidence in court have been launched today by the Lord Chancellor.
Key amongst today’s proposals is a new target that all crown courts and 90 per cent of magistrates’ courts should have facilities to keep witnesses separate from defendants within four years.
Provision of video links will also be improved, hopefully so they are available in 75 per cent of magistrates’ courts.
Launching the plans, Lord Falconer said: “The needs and safety of victims must be at the heart of the way trials are managed. Giving evidence is a nerve-racking experience, especially for victims. It’s even tougher for vulnerable victims of crime – such as children, older people, and victims of sexual crimes.”
Stressing that there were other measures already being implemented – such as efforts to reduce the number of witnesses kept waiting – he said: “This all adds up to a better deal for victims and witnesses in the court process. These are practical measures that will help to make it easier for victims under great pressure – sometimes intimidation – and often faced with giving evidence against people they know well.”
David Heath, the Liberal Democrat constitutional affairs spokesman, said that he welcomed the “long overdue moves to improve the facilities at courts.
“But these improvements must not be used as a pretext to close more local courts, especially magistrates courts.
“It is not only the court environment that needs to be improved for witnesses and victims. Access to courts also needs to be improved as the best justice is that which is seen to be delivered locally.” he added.
