Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files

Published on: 12 November 2015

Summary

The police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are two of the principal participants in the criminal justice system. They have complementary roles: the police investigate crime and the CPS prepares the cases and presents them in court. If victims or witnesses are vulnerable this may affect their ability to attend court and give evidence. It is therefore essential that police officers identify accurately the vulnerability of victims and witnesses in the case papers they submit to the CPS.

This report sets out the findings of a review of the quality of criminal case files. It examines how effective the police are in providing accurate information of the circumstances of the case, identifying the vulnerability of victims and witnesses, and assessing and managing risks so the needs of witnesses and victims are met.

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Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files (PDF document)

Get the force reports

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Bedfordshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Cheshire Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – City of London Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Cleveland Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Cumbria Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Derbyshire Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Devon and Cornwall Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Dorset Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Durham Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Dyfed-Powys Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Essex Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Gloucestershire Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Greater Manchester Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Gwent Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Hampshire Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Hertfordshire Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Humberside Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Kent Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Lancashire Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Leicestershire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Lincolnshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Merseyside Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Metropolitan Police Service

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Norfolk Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – North Wales Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – North Yorkshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Northamptonshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Northumbria Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Nottinghamshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – South Wales Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – South Yorkshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Staffordshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Suffolk Constabulary

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Surrey Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Sussex Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Thames Valley Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Warwickshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – West Mercia Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – West Midlands Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – West Yorkshire Police

Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files – Wiltshire Police

Get the press release

Vulnerable victims and witnesses are being let down by an inconsistent approach to the management of criminal case files

Get the police and crime commissioners’ responses to the report

Cambridgeshire police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (Item 6 of minutes) (PDF document)

Cheshire police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’

Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Dorset police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Dyfed-Powys police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’

Greater Manchester police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Hampshire police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’

Leicestershire police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Lincolnshire police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Merseyside police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’

Northamptonshire police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Suffolk police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’

Surrey police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Sussex police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Thames Valley police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (PDF document)

Warwickshire police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’

West Mercia police and crime commissioner’s response to ‘Witness for the prosecution: Identifying victim and witness vulnerability in criminal case files’ (please refer to page 37)