Reluctant Witness

Author: Sarah Spencer and Beatrice Stern
Contributors: a foreword by Nick Ross
Price: £5.00
Publication Date: 01 November 2001

Crime is rarely entirely hidden from the public eye. Someone frequently sees or knows that the offence is taking place, and their willingness to tell the police what they know and to give evidence in court is vital both to the prosecution and the defence.

However, the contribution made by these members of the public is undervalued and over-looked. In contrast to the recent attention rightly given to the needs of victims, public policy has as yet given too little thought to the way that we treat independent witnesses and how we could encourage more of them to speak up.

Drawing on consultation with criminal justice professionals and members of the public, the report identifies the reasons behind witness reluctance and makes clear recommendations for reform. In so doing, it presents a challenge to the Government and the criminal justice agencies.

"Without witnesses there can be no justice. Yet, as this report explains, the criminal justice system handles witnesses with such insouciance that many people are deterred from coming forward...This report is timely...Unless we move towards a more transparent courtesy to witnesses, justice will always be enfeebled – and may progressively erode to the point of crisis."
Nick Ross, Presenter, BBC Crimewatch