Date Embargo Reference
22 January 2008 WYCJBPR20
New Court Support for Witnesses in West Yorkshire
An initiative to support witnesses going to court and reduce the number of cases that stall because of witnesses refusing to testify has been launched in West Yorkshire.
Her Majesty‟s Courts Service (HMCS) has developed an interactive, multilingual and animated DVD to help witnesses and victims understand their crucial role in the court process. The DVD „Going to Court: A step by step guide to being a witness‟ is an easy-to-follow animation seen through the eyes of a witness. It explains why victims and witnesses are so important in the court process and what they will do while at court. It has separate routes for prosecution and defence witnesses to follow at their own pace and witnesses can also tour a magistrates‟, Crown, and youth court. There is a frequently asked questions section at the end.
Courts Minister Maria Eagle says the DVD would encourage both victims and witnesses to give evidence by fully informing them of what happens in court: “We recognise that going to court can be a daunting experience. For many witnesses the court is an unfamiliar environment and can be quite frightening, especially for those who have been called to give evidence for the first time. This DVD is an important step in addressing and responding to witness and victim anxiety.”
www.cjsonline.gov.uk
The multilingual DVD recognises the diverse backgrounds of court users, and can be viewed in English (with subtitles), Welsh (with subtitles), Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and British Sign Language all on one disc.
Anyone in West Yorkshire can ask to view the DVD at all courts across the region. Dyfed Foulkes, Area Director of Her Majesty‟s Courts Service for North and West Yorkshire said the DVD would empower witnesses by fully informing them of what happens in court: “The Going to Court DVD demystifies the court process in a clear and helpful way, promoting confidence among those people facing a court appearance. It contains vital information for any witness attending court and I believe that it will lead to a much improved quality of service for victims and witnesses.”
The DVD was piloted last year in Nottingham and Leicester, and developed in conjunction with the Victim Support/Witness Service who fully support the initiative. An evaluation of the pilot found that most people who saw the DVD felt more confident in going to court, and more than half would encourage others to attend court as a witness. Julia Hodson Deputy Chief Constable, West Yorkshire Police (Chair of the West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board) said the DVD was an important step forward in support for witnesses: “The DVD is a guide. It follows a case through court from making a statement to attending court. It also explains what happens after the trial. “The pilots in Nottingham and Leicester clearly demonstrate that the DVD has given people the confidence to attend court. The distribution of the DVD throughout England and Wales ensures that victims and witnesses remain at the heart of the criminal justice system.”
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HMCS have initially distributed around 200,000 copies of the Going to Court DVD nation wide, to Witness Care Units and defence solicitors and the court based Witness Service in England and Wales.
The animation can also be viewed online at http://video.direct.gov.uk/goingtocourtvideo/ where it will be available in the same languages as the DVD but also including Polish.
Those witnesses who do not have access to a DVD player at home or elsewhere will be able to watch the DVD either by themselves or with the Witness Service support in the witness waiting rooms at each Crown or magistrates‟ court.
NOTES
1. The West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board was set up in April 2003 to manage the CJS at a local level. It, along with the other 41 Local Boards across England and Wales, reports to the National Criminal Justice Board which supports them in their work to meet Public Service Agreement targets at a local level and reduce crime in West Yorkshire.
2. Her Majesty's Courts Service is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. Its remit is to deliver justice effectively and efficiently to the public. We are responsible for managing the magistrates' courts, the Crown Court, county courts, the High Court and Court of Appeal in England and Wales.
3. Copies of the DVD are available from the Witness Service based at local (criminal) courts, defence lawyers or Witness Care Units.
For further information please contact Jaquie Eden-James: jj1@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk 01924 292248
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