Protecting Intimidated Witnesses

"This title was first published in 2001. Since the early 1990s, concern has grown about the harassment and intimidation of prosecution witnesses and as a result, several police forces have set up specialist units to protect witnesses under threat. This is the first-ever book to offer an in-depth analysis of a witness protection programme. Including interviews with both protected witnesses and police officers involved, it examines the structure, cost and effectiveness of such schemes and suggests how they might be expanded and developed at local, national and international levels."--Provided by publisher.

Set up under the authorithy of the European Committee on Crime Problems

Examines steps that law enforcement agencies & prosecutors' offices across the country have taken to prevent witness intimidation, describes how jurisdictions have carried out these strategies, & offers a blueprint for combining these discrete approaches into a comprehensive, structured program to protect witnesses & ensure their cooperation. Discusses the nature & extent of witness intimidation, traditional approaches to security, witness relocation, preventing intimidation in courtrooms & jails, reducing community-wide intimidation, developing a comprehensive witness security program, legal issues, & sources of help.

Since the early 1990s, concern has grown about the harassment and intimidation of prosecution witnesses and as a result, several police forces have set up specialist units to protect witnesses under threat. This is the first-ever book to offer an in-depth analysis of a witness protection programme. Including interviews with both protected witnesses and police officers involved, it examines the structure, cost and effectiveness of such schemes and suggests how they might be expanded and developed at local, national and international levels.

In the light of the urgent need for cooperative and collaborative action against trafficking, this publication presents examples of promising practice from around the world relating to trafficking interventions. It is hoped that the guidance offered, the practices showcased and the resources recommended in this Toolkit will inspire and assist policymakers, law enforcers, judges, prosecutors, victim service providers and members of civil society in playing their role in the global effort against trafficking in persons. The present edition is an updated and expanded version of the Toolkit published in 2006.

Witnesses play a crucial role in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of serious and organised crimes, and a range of protection measures are needed to ensure that witnesses can testify freely and without intimidation and receive protection before, during and after trial. This publication contains recently adopted Council of Europe and other standards in this field, as well as a compendium of national laws and practices in the countries which participated in the joint Council of Europe and European Commission CARPO regional police project from 2004 to 2006.