Whether you are or have been a witness to or a victim of a
crime, or simply want to find out more about the vital role victims
and witnesses of crime play in bringing offenders to justice, this
website will help answer some of the questions you may have and
will help you understand what happens at court.
There is one Witness Care Unit in Dorset which is staffed
by Police and the Crown Prosecution Service
(CPS) who offer support and advice to victims
and witnesses involved in cases in which someone has been charged
with an offence and is being prosecuted through the courts. The
Witness care Unit is divided into two teams, one of which deals
with cases in the Magistrates Courts and the other deals with cases
in the Crown Courts.
A Witness Care Officer will be allocated to your case and they
will be your single point of contact, whether you are a victim of
or witness to a crime. They provide a consistent and accessible
service for dealing with individual needs, support and advice. If
you wish to contact them directly, you can give them a call
on:
01202 498819 / 498849 / 498820 (Crown Court team)
or
01202 498769 / 498814 / 498818 / 498846 / 498816
(Magistrates Court team).
The Witness Care Unit ensures that all victims and witnesses are
provided with the appropriate level of care and support throughout
the Criminal Justice Process.
Please follow the links through the site to find out
more or if you have a specific question, follow the link to our
Frequently Asked
Questions section to see if it is covered.