DVD support for witnesses

More court cases should go ahead in Staffordshire thanks to a new system aimed at reducing the number of witnesses who are unwilling to give evidence.

Some trials stall or fail because witnesses refusing to testify.

Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) has developed an interactive, multilingual and animated DVD to help witnesses and victims understand their role.

The film – Going to Court: A step by step guide to being a witness – is an easy-to-follow animation seen through the eyes of a witness.

It has separate routes for prosecution and defence witnesses to follow at their own pace, and witnesses can also tour magistrates, crown and youth courts.

The DVD recognises the diverse backgrounds of court users and can be viewed in English, Welsh, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and British Sign Language all on one disc.

Peter Hammersley, area director of (HMCS) for Staffordshire, said the DVD will empower witnesses.

He added: "This film goes a long way to demystify the court process in a clear and helpful way, promoting confidence among those people facing a court appearance.

"More confident witnesses will mean a decrease in the number of court trials that stall because witnesses refuse to testify."

The DVD, piloted last year in Nottingham and Leicester, was developed in conjunction with the Victim Support/Witness Service.

An evaluation of the pilot found that most people who saw the DVD felt more confident in going to court, and more than half would encourage others to attend court as witnesses.

Chris Sims, chairman of the Staffordshire Criminal Justice Board, said: "This is a useful source of information for any witness who has to go to court."

The animation can also be viewed at www.directgov.uk/goingtocourtvideo