People who will help you with the trial
People who will help you with the trial
A Witness Care Officer will call you to let you know what happens next.Your Witness Care Officer will be your main point of contact and will liaise with the police, courts and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). They also think of things like as cultural issues, the need for interpreters, hearing loops or alternative access routes to court. Where needed, they can sort out travel and accommodation.
Witness Care Officers usually contact witnesses by telephone and can't carry out home visits; but they work closely with the Witness Service, a free, confidential service that is part of Victim Support. You can contact them before the trial. Call 0845 3030900. The Witness Service's trained volunteers can give you:
- information on what happens at court
- emotional support and someone to talk to in confidence
- someone to go into the courtroom with you when you give evidence
- a visit to the court centre before the trial and a look around a courtroom.
The Witness Service does not discuss evidence or give legal advice.
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An Adult Protection Team Domestic Violence caseworker may call you to offer you support and guidance, and provide a link to support services and other agencies.
A Criminal Justice Independent Domestic Violence Advisor
(IDVA), who works for Rise, can support you through the
criminal justice system, through to sentencing and beyond.
There's been a conviction in 73% of domestic abuse cases where an
IDVA supported the victim. 66% of all victims supported, whether or
not there was a conviction, said the domestic abuse had stopped or
reduced as a result.
If you're in High danger, your specialist police detective will keep in touch with you after this court date. If you're in Standard or Medium danger, your uniformed police investigator won't keep in touch with you after this court date.