The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Courts & Tribunals Service have announced that vulnerable victims and witnesses will no longer have to appear in court under new plans to roll out pre-trial evidence sessions.
An historic joint paper from the Lord Chancellor, Senior President of Tribunals and Lord Chief Justice outlines a £1 billion vision to deliver a justice system that works for everyone.
Under the shake-up, legal jargon will be replaced with simple language – and defendants will be able to plead guilty to some minor offences and pay fines online.
Vulnerable victims and witnesses will no longer have to appear in court under new plans to roll out pre-trial evidence sessions, in which cross-examinations will be recorded and played during the trial.
The measure is intended to spare both victims and witnesses the stress of re-living traumatic events in open court.
The move follows three successful pilots which showed that victims felt less pressure with pre-trial evidence giving – and witnesses were better able to recall events.
Nearly three-quarters of the cases in the pilot programmes run in Liverpool, Leeds and Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Courts involved sexual offences.
The Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Elizabeth Truss, said children in particular would benefit from being able to give evidence in a less intimidating environment.
The joint paper also outlines plans to make the system more straightforward by reducing legal jargon and allowing people to plead guilty to some minor offences and pay fines online – beginning with transport fare dodging.
Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss said:
“We want a justice system that works for everyone – that means creating a system that is just, proportionate and accessible.
“We have the tools and the technology to cut unnecessary paperwork, to deliver swifter justice and to make the experience more straightforward.
“Most importantly, these reforms will allow us to better protect victims and witnesses, who can find the experience of re-living a traumatic event in court incredibly stressful.”
The plans were outlined on Wednesday (15/09/16) by the Lord Chancellor, Elizabeth Truss, the Senior President of Tribunals, Sir Ernest Ryder, and the Lord Chief Justice, The Right Honourable Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd.
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