§ Dr. George TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will introduce to protect witnesses and victims from being intimidated against giving evidence. [64367]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill, introduced on 3 December 1998, includes a range of practical measures to protect vulnerable or intimidated witnesses and assist them to give their best evidence. These were recommended in the report of the Working Group on Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses which we published for consultation last June. The 331W implementation of these measures, together with those recommendations which do not require legislation will be taken forward by an Interdepartmental Steering Group which has already started work.