Evidence pilot scheme begins in courts
The most vulnerable people involved in the courts process will be able to give evidence and be cross-examined away from the intense atmosphere of a live courtroom, in an attempt to spare them what could be aggressive questioning in front of a jury, a judge, and their alleged attacker.
The government is initially trying the new approach in three courts with the aim of rolling it out more widely if successful, the Ministry of Justice said.
People who may find it difficult to give their best possible evidence in a courtroom environment and all child victims will be considered for pre-trial cross-examination in the pilot areas.
This allows them to give their evidence and be cross-examined by both prosecution and defence barristers ahead of the trial, in front of a judge, and then it is shown to the jury as part of the trial.
Leeds, Liverpool, and Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Courts are testing pre-trial cross-examination this year.
Following a visit to Kingston-upon-Thames to see how it would work in practice, victims’ minister Damian Green said: “If you have experienced a horrendous crime, giving evidence in the pressured environment of a live courtroom, in front of the jury and the public gallery, can be intimidating and perhaps too much to ask.
“That’s why we are trying a new approach, the first of its kind, which prioritises the victim. I hope this test will allow pre-trial cross-examination to take place more widely.”
Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive at Victim Support, said: “We welcome these pilots because repeated, aggressive questioning of vulnerable witnesses in a packed courtroom cannot be the best way to obtain sound and accurate evidence.
“More importantly, it is not the right way to protect vulnerable victims and witnesses from what can often be a distressing and traumatic experience.”
