News

DVD pieces things together for victims and witnesses ...

20th Oct, 2009 to 20th Jan, 2010

Staffordshire Police supported by the Local Criminal Justice Board have launched a DVD to help victims and witnesses of crime.

Fronted by Sky Newsreader and BBC2's 'Eggheads' presenter, Dermot Murnaghan, JIGSAW (Justice Information Guide Supporting and Advising Witnesses) aims to allay some of the concerns people may have about the criminal justice system by ensuring that they are well informed about what they are likely to experience as a victim or a witness.

The DVD is divided into 4 chapters : supporting you during an investigation, going to court, justice working for you and the useful information guide.  The guide has details of organisations offering help and advice to victims of crime as well as a 'frequently asked questions' section.

JIGSAW has an interactive format which allows the viewer to replay sections which they may wish to watch again.  Copies will be distributed to victims and witnesses by police officers involved in the early stages of an investigation.  If the case goes to court, witness care officers can supply a copy if one has not already been given.

Assistance Chief Constable Jane Sawyers says the DVD format should make the information more accessible to people, "I am sure most people would rather have someone on a DVD show them what is likely to happen when they go to court than have to read a pile of leaflets as has been the case up till now.  We are able to give them a flavour of the sort of things they are going to experience if they become involved with a prosecution case.  For many people called as witnesses, it is their first experience of the criminal justice system and they may be unsure of what to expect.  By taking them through the process, we hope it will give them a better understanding of the system and help them to feel more confident about appearing in court."

Head of Justice Services as Staffordshire Police, Superintendent Juliet Prince, is pleased with the final product, "The DVD and booklet are excellent resources for us to use with victims and witnesses.  The final product is comprehensive and very user-friendly.  I am really pleased with the way it has turned out.  Hopefully, anyone who becomes involved in the criminal justice system as a victim or witness will feel less daunted by the idea after watching it.  We want witnesses to have a better understanding of what to expect and to feel confident about the process."

For people who are hearing impaired, the DVD has subtitles and a number of portable DVD players are also being made available too officers to that they can play JIGSAW to people who do not have access to a player of their own.

The DVD is also available on the force website www.staffordshire.police.co.uk/information zone/jigsaw.  People who are unlikely to go through the whole criminal justice process will be able to view sections which relate to them such as 'supporting you through an investigation' or the 'useful information guide' even if they are not given a copy of the DVD.