{"id":691,"date":"2020-11-04T13:17:03","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T13:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victimsupport.org.uk\/?page_id=691"},"modified":"2023-12-07T16:38:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T16:38:23","slug":"your-rights-as-a-witness","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.victimsupport.org.uk\/going-court\/your-rights-as-a-witness\/","title":{"rendered":"Your rights as a witness"},"content":{"rendered":"
The\u00a0Witness Charter<\/a> sets out the basic standards of service you can expect from the criminal justice system in England and Wales as a witness of crime.<\/p>\n Key standards of care for witnesses include:<\/p>\n Unlike the\u00a0Victims\u2019 Code<\/a>, there’s no legal requirement to meet the standards for witness care set out in the Witness Charter. However, all the agencies covered by the Charter should comply with the standards wherever possible.<\/p>\n Victims of crime who are called as a witness have specific legal entitlements that are set out in the Victims\u2019 Code. These include:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a witness of a crime and are unhappy with the level of service you’ve received you can make a complaint through the complaints procedure of the relevant agency, such as the police or the Crown Prosecution Service.<\/p>\n If you’ve done so and are still dissatisfied then you can approach the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman<\/a>\u00a0with your complaint. You must first contact your MP and ask them to refer your complaint to the Ombudsman as they will not consider cases directly from a member of the public.\u00a0Find your local MP<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> You can contact the Citizens Advice witness service<\/a> for help and support in court.<\/p>\n Call\u00a00300 332 1000<\/a> or fill in their online referral form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n
How to make a complaint<\/h2>\n
Help\u00a0and support in court<\/h2>\n
Downloads<\/h3>\n
\n
Related links<\/h3>\n
\n