Calls for fast-tracking of cases involving young witnesses

The NSPCC has called for criminal cases involving young witnesses to fast-tracked.

New research published by the children's charity today shows young witnesses often have to wait more than a year to give evidence in crown court cases in England and Wales.

Of particular concern, the charity adds, is the fact that the vast majority of those children questioned in their study gave evidence in cases involving violence or sexual abuse.

On average, child witnesses take in average take on average two months longer than other cases, research shows, and more than one in three children surveyed said their hearings had been rescheduled at least once.

NSPCC lawyer Barbara Esam said: "Court appearances are naturally stressful for anyone, let alone a young child who might be giving evidence about abuse they've suffered.

"These excessive delays only add to that pressure and interfere with justice. Speeding up young witness cases has been government policy since 1988 and is frequently re-stated but has still not been achieved.

"Our research shows that on average there is a 13-month gap between a child reporting an offence and the start of a crown court trial. One parent of a ten-year-old said their child was bedwetting in the run-up to each of three rescheduled dates. The first trial should have been March but did not take place until December."

She added if courts did not act quickly to reduce court delays there was a risk of undermining evidence given by children, which in turn will undermine the criminal justice system.

"Policies for the judiciary, courts and prosecutors say cases involving children should get priority listing but this research shows such trials actually take longer to get to court," Ms Esam continued.

"If the situation can't be improved then at the very least there should be videoed cross-examination to avoid courtroom ordeals like that suffered by the child raped by Baby Peter's step-father."

The NSPCC has called on the UK government to make sure remote link facilities are available for young witnesses to give evidence away from the court room.

Ms Esam concludes the facility would allow children to feel more relaxed and remove the risk of intimidation.