§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the effectiveness of the guidance on vulnerable and intimidated witnesses under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. [146290]
§ Paul GogginsComprehensive guidance about vulnerable or intimidated witnesses (VIWs) was issued to practitioners in January 2002. There are no current plans to review this guidance.
Rules of Court relating to Special Measures Directions under the 1999 Act came into force on 24 July 2002. These rules are now being reviewed to improve their effectiveness and it is expected that amending rules will be issued in the spring.
235WIndividual issues of effectiveness are considered as they arise by the national VIW steering group which meets regularly.