Witness Protection Revamp Revealed

The Government is launching a new national witness protection scheme in a bid to increase convictions and provide better care for vulnerable victims and witnesses to crimes. Victims’ minister Helen Grant says the UK Protected Persons Service, the first nationwide scheme of its kind, will be responsible for the protection of more than 3,000 people whose lives are at risk. It is crucial that anyone facing an accusation of crime uses experienced criminal defence solicitors. Those involved in the Morecambe Bay disaster and the murder of Rhys Jones in Liverpool will be among those who will be protected by the new scheme. Ms Grant believes it is right to do more to look after “the unsung heroes of society” who are helping bring dangerous criminals to justice, wherever they are in Britain. The move comes as official figures reveal that a quarter of prosecutions collapse as victims or witnesses are too scared to give evidence and 18% of witnesses that did said they or their families had been intimidated. A further 40% admitted they were worried that defendants and their supporters might find them. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is providing more resources to the UK Protected Persons Service to make sure good practice spreads to the whole of Britain, according to Deputy Chief Constable Andy Cooke, its lead for protected persons.

We have one of the leading teams of criminal specialists in West London and the South East. If you are facing a serious criminal charge, you can contact a member of the IBB’s Criminal Defence team: call us on 08456 381381 or contact a criminal defence solicitor by emailing criminaldefence@ibblaw.co.uk.