Witness Charter

The Charter applies to:

•    witnesses of crime
•    expert witnesses such as police, forensic and medical

Support and Information

If you are called to give evidence as a prosecution or defence witness you should:

• be recognised and treated in a polite, respectful, sensitive, professional and non-discriminatory way by service providers
• have service providers, or a defence legal representative, take appropriate measures to help you understand what they are telling you and make sure they understand what you are telling them
• have access to free translation or interpretation
• get information on the date, time and location for giving evidence
• get information on claiming expenses, if asked to give evidence by the prosecution
• be able to bring someone of your choice to give you support
•    be interviewed by the police as few times as possible
• be told if you have to give evidence at court and receive information about the timing and location of this

Prosecution witness

If you are giving evidence as a prosecution witness you are also entitled to:

• receive information on help and support available to you
• have access to free translation
• discuss any needs you have with your case officer in the Victim and Witness Care Unit and be referred to a relevant support service provider, if appropriate, who can advise you of services (including specialist services)
• be protected from contact with the defendant, their family and supporters at court, wherever possible
• ask to enter the building through a different entrance from the alleged offender and to sit in a separate waiting area, wherever possible
• deal with people who are trained appropriately in their contact with witnesses

More information

• Witness services and special court measures
• Going to court as a victim or witness
• Witness Charter(external link opens in a new window / tab)