The initiative aims to reduce stress for victims and witnesses and boost convictions
Crown courts in England and Wales have rolled out new technology which aims to spare rape victims the stress of being cross-examined during a live trial.
The government’s goal is to boost rape convictions and ensure better support for victims. Subject to a successful application to the court, the tool allows victims and witnesses to have their cross-examination evidence recorded and played later during trial.
The recording takes place as close to the time of the offence as possible, while memories remain fresh.
The measure is now available at a final 20 crown courts in Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, East Anglia, Essex, London and the South East, and marks the completion of national rollout.
The move ...
