Victims and witnesses attending court hearings in Newton Aycliffe will benefit from improved facilities thanks to funding by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.
The County Durham and Darlington PCC has agreed to renovate current witness and victim provision at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court to increase space.
It follows a request for funding from HM Court & Tribunal Services (HMCTS) to help improve the experience of witnesses and victims attending court.
The Commissioner previously funded a revamp of the witness rooms at both Peterlee Magistrates’ Court and Durham Crown Court to deliver a better response and quality of care to witnesses.
The new funding arrangement will see an old court room at Newton Aycliffe converted into a modern witness waiting room with building works set to include the removal of a wall to create a separate entrance. This would ensure witnesses are screened from the main waiting room for all court visitors on their route to the facilities or when using the toilet, providing them with increased privacy.
Commissioner Allen has prioritised supporting victims of crime and anti-social behaviour in her Police and Crime Plan under the Safer People theme, pledging to deliver high-quality services to help them cope and recover from their experiences.
Commissioner Allen said: “The welfare of victims and witnesses of crime is of paramount concern to me which is why I previously allocated funding from my budget to upgrade facilities at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court and Durham Crown Court.
“This new investment will ensure those who attend court to give evidence at Newton Aycliffe as witnesses or victims are made to feel as comfortable as possible and receive the privacy they need to make their experience less stressful.
“As Commissioner, I will continue to seek out opportunities to make a difference to victims and witnesses and ensure their journey through the criminal justice system is as smooth as possible.”
’We know that coming to court can be daunting. We work with all criminal justice agencies and the judiciary to ensure the experience goes as well as it can. The new waiting room will provide privacy for victims and witnesses, along with a separate and more comfortable place for them to wait before going into court.”
Previous PCC funding has enabled the purchase of furniture for the new room while HMCTS has also agreed to create a refreshment area in the facility to allow hot drinks and food to be stored and prepared. HMCTS also plan to provide a TV and a new refreshment area at both Durham and Peterlee.
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