Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 October 2002. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 October 2002 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what assessment she has made of the facilities required adequately to house witnesses separately from those charged and appearing before street crime courts.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the facilities required adequately to house witnesses seperately from those charged and appearing before street crime courts. [73724] Ms Yvette Cooper: My officials identified 70 street crime courts. The courts were identified according to the following criteria: Separate entrance for witnesses or a facility to separate them immediately upon arrival. Separate secure waiting area for witnesses. Availability of witness support service. Separate lavatories and catering facilities or provision to prevent intimidation when using them. Capacity of the court to cope with projected workload. Current adequate performance. Availability of adequate public transport. Work has been commissioned at each designated street crime court, to ensure that court accommodation meets these criteria. The majority of these works will be completed in the courts by the end of September 2002. Where they have not yet been completed, local arrangements are in place to separate witnesses on arrival.

Secondary information