"Among her recommendations are dedicated sessions preparing for the adversarial nature of cross examination, virtual courtroom tours, and a single point of contact to help them navigate the system. So what do complainants and others working in the criminal justice system think about these ideas?"
"Often those cases can be adjourned and delayed the night before - or on the morning of - and victims have geared themselves up, and then when it's moved it has a profound impact on them. They're having to wait and put their lives on hold, she said. A courtroom, giving evidence and being cross examined, is an incredibly daunting and traumatising experience and I just don't think we give the right type of support to victims going into that."
There is a record backlog of more than 18,000 cases waiting to come to crown courts in London, leaving some victims waiting as long as seven years between reporting offences and trials. Around 146 victims drop out each month after charges are brought and about 40% withdraw before a charging decision. Last-minute adjournments force victims to repeatedly prepare and put their lives on hold. Cross-examination is described as daunting and traumatising. Recommended measures include dedicated preparation sessions for adversarial cross-examination, virtual courtroom tours, and a single point of contact to help victims navigate the system.
Read at www.bbc.com
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