Victims of Crime

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 4 February 2014.

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Photo of Ann Coffey Ann Coffey Labour, Stockport 11:30, 4 February 2014

The extent to which sexual attacks and exploitation affect the way in which victims give evidence in court is poorly understood, and the difficulties that such people experience when giving evidence are often used to undermine them and their credibility as witnesses. The wider use of registered intermediaries would help to ensure that the evidence of the best possible quality was obtained during cross-examination. I know that the Minister is very supportive of that idea, but what is his view of the barriers that still prevent the use of registered intermediaries?