Meeting your individual needs as a witness
Some people can find the process of giving evidence in court particularly difficult, due to their individual needs.
Special measures
Special measures are available to help certain people in certain circumstances give their evidence in the best way possible. Your Witness Care Officer will discuss this with you when they ask you to go to court.
Application for special measures
An application for special measures will be put forward by the Crown Prosecution Service and the court will decide whether special measures are appropriate. You will then be informed of the outcome.
Do I qualify for special measures?
You may be eligible for special measures if:
- You are under 17 at the time of the court hearing.
- You have a mental disorder.
- You have significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning.
- You have a physical disability or are suffering from a physical disorder.
- Or if your evidence is likely to suffer because you are extremely distressed at giving evidence.
You need to talk to your Witness Care Officer as soon as possible if you feel any of these apply to you.