Witness Care: Focussing on Greatest Need (Minimum Requirements)
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This prosecution guidance outlines the minimum requirements for witness care, focusing on the needs of the most vulnerable individuals in the justice system. It aims to ensure that witnesses receive the necessary support throughout the legal process. The guidance emphasizes the importance of effective communication and tailored assistance for different witness groups.
Key points
- Focus on the needs of vulnerable witnesses.
- Ensure timely communication with witnesses.
- Provide adequate support throughout the legal process.
- Tailor assistance based on individual circumstances.
- Promote effective witness engagement strategies.
Public-interest factors
- Support for vulnerable witnesses is essential to ensure justice.
- Effective witness care enhances the reliability of testimonies.
- Timely assistance can lead to increased victim confidence in the justice system.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.