CPS in Wales highlights crimes against older people

05/03/2012

There is little doubt that crimes against older people are under-reported in our society. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Wales is determined to work alongside partner organisations to help address this.

The CPS national policy on prosecuting crimes against older people was launched in 2008. We are committed to working proactively with older people, their families, communities, the organisations who work with them and the general public, to give them confidence that we understand the serious nature of these crimes and that we are dealing effectively with them.

Gerallt Evans (pictured) is Hate Crime Co-ordinator for CPS Cymru-Wales. Part of his job is to make sure the CPS in Wales is doing everything it can to encourage and support victims and witnesses.

Says Gerallt: "There are any number of reasons why older people may not report crime. They may feel embarrassed, have mental health issues, fear being victimised as a result of coming forward or have communication or language barriers."

"We also know that many people - and especially some older people - feel intimidated by the court process.  That's why we want to get the message across that there are things we can do to help reduce the fear people have of going to court. For example, we can apply for special measures like screens in court to prevent a victim seeing the defendant, or the option to give evidence away from the courtroom through a live TV link from home.

"We can also use intermediaries in court. An intermediary is a person appointed by the court to help someone with communication difficulties to give evidence.  Witness Care Officers provide a single point of contact in the run-up to case, and can help with a range of things from taxi transport to pet-sitting."

Targeting someone because they are older makes a crime even more serious, so it is important that all parts of the criminal justice system work together to bring offenders to justice; whether they be strangers, carers or family members.

Gerallt says: "Living free from crime is a basic human right. We want older people who may be suffering criminal mistreatment to report then to the police, safe in the knowledge that all of us who work in the criminal justice system understand the serious nature of these crimes and will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice."