Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he will take steps to allow victims of domestic violence or abuse to give evidence either by video link or to be recorded at a separate time to the cross-examination of the accused.

As part of Special Measures introduced under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 vulnerable and intimidated witnesses can give their evidence and be cross examined by video link remote from the court room or from another location away from the court building. Victims of domestic abuse have access to special measures if they are fearful or distressed. In such cases, they would fall into the category of an ‘intimidated’ witness.

We are rolling out pre-trial cross examination for child and vulnerable victims and witnesses in the Crown Court and testing this provision for certain eligible intimidated victims in 3 Crown Court centres this autumn.