1. Improving Services Through Witness Care Units Pauline Spencer & Simon Deacy CPS Unit Head & Police Unit Head CPS Unit Head & Police Unit Head Police/CPS Victim & Witness Care Delivery Unit National Project Managers No Witness No Justice

2. Outline n Why change is important n Background to Witness Care Units n What we expect the service to deliver

3. Why Change a World Renowned Criminal Justice System It was and still can be: - Daunting - Dismissive - Uncommunicative - Unthoughtful/Inconsiderate - Traumatic - Seen as a theatre where games are played If you are vulnerable or intimidated it can feel even worse!

4. More Importantly - It Can Still Deny Vulnerable People Equal Access To Justice

5. What We Set Up Witness Care Units To Do n To be more thoughtful n To be more informative n To be more responsive n To demystify the court procedure n To drive improvement throughout CJS n To show people we care AND n To understand and meet the needs of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses

6. By Setting up Witness Care Units We expect: n Police Officers to establish if a victim or witness is intimidated or vulnerable n Police Officers to explain the CJS system n Police Officers to establish from the outset if special measures would assist n Police Officers to identify if support from VS or other organisation would help n Police Officers to manage expectations, fears and information needs

7. Cont n CPS prosecutors to consider victim and witness issues at point of charge n Witness Care Units to establish a positive rapport with every witness n Witness Care Units to undertake a detailed needs assessment of every witness called to court, and meet those needs n Witness Care Units to understand issues of vulnerability and intimidation and to ensure they do all that they can