Elsewhere in the public sector…

…the profile of victims and witnesses within the criminal justice system has been steadily increasing. Earlier this year, local criminal justice boards (LCJBs) were asked to co-ordinate the introduction of the Witness Charter across police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service, Witness Care Units, magistrates and crown courts, and the Witness Service.

The Witness Charter, which will be provided to every witness, sets out how they can expect to be treated at each stage of the process by all the agencies they come into contact with.

The charter makes many commitments, including being treated fairly and with respect, doing things at a time convenient to the witness, keeping the witness informed, recognising personal constraints, explaining things, and workers in the system introducing themselves to the witness.

LCJBs have also been asked to monitor compliance against the charter standards, for example, through witness surveys.