Why are intermediaries needed?
Intermediaries are specialists in communication, provided to children and vulnerable adults to enable them to have a voice in the Criminal Justice System…..in doing so, they give these victims access to justice
– Baroness Newlove of Warrington, A Voice for the Voiceless, Victim’s Commissioner’s Review into the Provision of registered intermediaries for children and vulnerable witnesses, 2018.
Use their expertise in communication to work out what people can understand
Suggest ways to ask questions that will be easily understood
Assess people’s ability to put their thoughts into words
Suggest strategies so that people can give evidence and explain what happened clearly and coherently
Assist people in understanding their trial or tribunal, its results, and in making their choices and opinions known
Communication is a two-way process. People need to understand what they are being asked, be able to answer, and have that answer understood clearly by others. Intermediaries use their skills as communication specialists to support this process.
From initial investigation to trial and beyond each vulnerable person is unique and each case is different, but in essence an intermediary will:
Assess the communication needs, skills and difficulties of the vulnerable person by:
- Meeting the vulnerable person (perhaps over several sessions)
- Gathering information from other professionals (with the vulnerable person’s permission)
They write a detailed report with advice and recommendations for the police and court officials, which can:
- Describe the strategies that will make understanding easier
- Be used to assist the vulnerable person give as much detail as possible.
The report can be used to plan with:
- Police officers - as they get ready for an interview
- Barristers and solicitors - when they phrase their questions during a trial or court hearing.
The report is used as the basis for a meeting with the Judge and barristers, or magistrates in a court case, and sets out clearly how the vulnerable witness will be assisted, what strategies will be used, and how any difficulties (like needing breaks or not being able to answer a question) will be dealt with. This is called a Ground Rules Hearing.
Intermediaries work to enable all court participants to follow the action, make informed choices, and understand any judgements that are made.
In practical terms this means that intermediaries make sure that:
- Things are explained and talked about in ways that the vulnerable person can understand
- Vulnerable people have appropriate adaptations and the resources they need to get their message across
- Vulnerable people will often have an intermediary beside them during the trial, to monitor and assist their communication.
If you need to contact us in an emergency outside of our office hours, please text our number which is 07875 564233. We aim to be available on this number until 10pm every night and over the weekend.