Witness Care Units
Dedicated Witness Care Units (WCUs) have been set up in Bradford and Leeds to provide practical help and moral support to victims and witnesses. The Units provide:
- Witness Care Officers who act as a single point of contact for a victim or witness thoughout the life of a case from the point of charge through any court proceedings that may follow. They will help individuals through the criminal justice process and coordinate support and services.
- a full 'needs assessment' to identify exactly what help victims and witnesses require to ensure they can attend court. This could include practical diffculties such as provision of child care, transport, help with language difficulties, medical problems and areas of concern, including possible intimidation
- continuous review of victim and witness needs throughout the case by the CPS and police
- greater communication and contact with witnesses about cases including the case outcome or trial result
By providing better information, reassurance and support victims and witnesses will be more confident and willing to attend court, which in turn should reduce ineffective trials, help to bring offenders to justice and improve public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Bradford WCU
Bradford Witness Care Unit was officially opened on 31 August 2005 by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, pictured below with CCP Neil Franklin and Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn.
The Unit, which serves the Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees areas, is based at Windsor House in Bradford.
It brings together Witness Care Officers from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), West Yorkshire Police and the Witness Service who will work in partnership to ensure victims and witnesses are provided with the support they need.
Opening the new Unit the Attorney General, the Right Honourable Lord Goldsmith QC said: "Victims and witnesses of crime often feel powerless in the face of the crime they have suffered, so I am pleased to be in Bradford to open its Witness Care Unit.
"By giving them support through the trial process, the Unit will enable victims and witnesses to take back power from the criminals who have wronged them."
Leeds WCU
Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins MP opened the Leeds Witness Care Unit on 18 October 2005.
The Unit covers the Leeds and Wakefield areas and will eventually have a total of 28 Witness Care Officers from the CPS, Police and Witness Service.
Mr Goggins is pictured centre with CPS and police WCU staff at the opening of the Unit.