Live-link access widened

Staffordshire is introducing a ‘live-link’ video system that for the first time in the county will use buildings that are not police stations or courts.

This is to encourage more vulnerable victims of crime to give evidence to court hearings.

A community building in Stoke-on-Trent has been identified as one venue and work is underway to make it fit for purpose and to install specialist equipment for the video link.

The video-link project will also be trialled at venues in the Staffordshire Moorlands and Burton.

Staffordshire police and crime commissioner Matthew Ellis said: “Using technology reduces the chance of vulnerable witnesses coming face-to-face with the person accused of the crime. It also aims to increase the number of victims who are comfortable to give evidence and reduce the number of victims who withdraw from the process prior to court.

“Using three locations in the initial stage of this new approach to support victims allows easier access and more opportunities for vulnerable victims to give evidence, all of which will lead to a better criminal justice system.”

Victims of domestic abuse and other vulnerable victims, whose cases are being progressed through the magistrates’ courts’, will be able to use the facilities at the three venues.