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Lord Chancellors Dept

Answer

Geraint Davies: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will provide additional funding to extend the use of live links to enable witnesses other than the defendant to give evidence through a live link in criminal proceedings. [97901] Yvette Cooper: Video link equipment is used in the Crown and magistrates' courts for two purposes: to enable defendants held in custody to participate in pre- trial hearings without having to attend court; and to allow vulnerable or intimidated witnesses to give evidence from outside the courtroom. All Crown Court centres have TV link equipment, which allows witnesses to give evidence from outside the courtroom but within the court building. 12 Crown Court centres have video conferencing facilities, which allow witnesses to give evidence from a remote location. In addition, equipment linking courtrooms with specific vulnerable and intimidated witness rooms will be installed in 29 Crown Court centres by the end of 2003. This equipment will also allow witnesses to give evidence from a remote location. 133 vulnerable and intimidated witness rooms had been installed in magistrates' courts by the end of September 2002. Work is currently under way to establish the number of additional video links that are required to meet current and future demand. The Court Service will then liaise with Criminal Justice System partners, including the Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office, on how to take this forward.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

97901; 400 c12-3W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Criminal proceedings CCTV Courts Crown Court Finance Evidence Magistrates' courts Witnesses Video recordings Video conferencing

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk