§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the facilities required adequately to house witnesses seperately from those charged and appearing before street crime courts. [73724]
§ Yvette CooperMy officials identified 70 street crime courts. The courts were identified according to the following criteria
Separate entrance for witnesses or a facility to separate them immediately upon arrival. Separate secure waiting area for witnesses.628WAvailability of witness support service.Separate lavatories and catering facilities or provision to prevent intimidation when using them.Capacity of the court to cope with projected workload.Current adequate performance.Availability of adequate public transport.Work has been commissioned at each designated street crime court, to ensure that court accommodation meets these criteria. The majority of these works will be completed in the courts by the end of September 2002. Where they have not yet been completed, local arrangements are in place to separate witnesses on arrival.