Making the case for support
How the Witness Service makes the criminal justice system more effective for everyone
We’ve run the Witness Service at Citizens Advice for 3 years — in that time we’ve supported over 480,000 witnesses.
We make a difference to people’s lives, helping them to feel more confident to stand up and give evidence in court. But supporting witnesses doesn’t just make their lives easier, our service has an impact on the wider criminal justice sector too. Here’s how:
- We help the justice system function by making sure witnesses, whichever side they’re on, feel confident and prepared to give their best evidence. Feeling nervous in the witness box can have an impact on the evidence someone is able to give. Our service helps witnesses to overcome their nerves and share the best account of what they know or have experienced. This is good — both for the witness and for us as society — as having all the evidence helps to make sure the trial has the right outcome.
We have a big impact even for the most vulnerable witnesses. In 2016 we introduced an outreach service to provide tailored support for these witnesses, which can include extra preparation before they come to court and a dedicated supporter who will be with them throughout their journey.
This last bit, in particular, is really valued by witnesses — the court process involves a lot of unfamiliar names and faces. By building up a relationship over time we help witnesses feel more confident to ask questions and get the support they need. 89% of witnesses who receive our outreach support tell us that we’ve helped them feel more confident about giving evidence and 93% told us we help them feel safe at court.
2. Our support for witnesses helps more trials to go ahead as planned — saving both time and money for our public services. 2016 research from the national audit office found that only 33% of trials in crown courts went ahead as planned on the day they were due to start. Delays and cancellations cost money — in 2014–15 government agencies spent over £114 million preparing for cases which didn’t go to court.
The most important for me was that I didn’t feel alone. I felt more confident, and positive. It really helped having the same person throughout, it is a struggle when there are lots of new people to meet each time.
Outreach witness
A recent study we carried out in the Midlands found that trials in which witnesses have received our support are 12% less likely to fail for witness reasons than those we aren’t involved in. For trials that involve vulnerable witnesses this increases to 14%. Witnesses who’ve benefited from our pre-trial court visits are almost 20% more likely to attend their trial compared to those who haven’t had this support from us.
Wonderful service. Could not have got through this without their kind care and help.
Witness
3. We’re improving people’s experience of the justice system — meaning they’re more willing to give evidence in the future. 2016 research by the Ministry of Justice found that only 55% of people who have been a victim or witness in court would be prepared to do so again.
74% of the witnesses we support tell us that they would give evidence again.
This is huge, our justice system only works if we have all the evidence — that means relying on tens of thousands of witnesses every year. Ultimately without witnesses, there can be no evidence and there can be no justice.
We’re really proud of the national consistency and quality of support our service offers to witnesses, no matter where they live or where the offence was witnessed. While historically the number of witnesses continues to fall, the length and complexity of the trials they’re involved in is increasing.
This means that we’re seeing more vulnerable victims and witnesses year on year so we’re continuing to adapt our service to make sure we’re meeting their needs. Ultimately we know our support for witnesses makes the criminal justice system more effective for everyone.
