Other witnesses
There may be other people in the witness waiting area who are giving evidence in the same trial as you or other trials in the court building. It’s very important not to discuss your case with any other witnesses in the witness waiting area.
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Witness Service supporter
The Witness Service is available to support you on the day of the trial. A Witness Service supporter will be with you in the waiting area before you give your evidence.
They can talk to you about the court process and answer any questions you may have. But they will not discuss your evidence or any details about the trial with you.
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Witness
Until it’s time for you to give evidence in the courtroom, you’ll be able to wait in a separate waiting area away from the court’s general waiting area. The court staff or security officer can tell you where to go or a member of the Witness Service will take you. This is sometimes called the witness suite or witness waiting area.
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Family member or friend
You can bring a friend or family member with you to court to support you. They can sit with you in the witness waiting area while you wait to give your evidence.
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Usher and lawyers
When it’s time for you to give your evidence, a court usher will collect you from the witness waiting area and will show you to the courtroom.
Before you give your evidence, a member of the legal team may speak with you while you’re waiting in the witness waiting area.
They’ll be dressed for court and may be wearing a wig and gown.
If you’re a witness called by the prosecution, this will be the CPS prosecutor or someone else from the prosecution team. If you’re a witness called by the defence, this will be the defence lawyer or someone from the defence team.
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Reviewing your witness statement
While you’re waiting, you’ll be able to read your witness statement. This is to refresh your memory on the evidence you gave to the police or to the defence legal team.
If you had a pre-recorded video witness statement and you haven’t watched it before the start of the trial to refresh your memory, the officer in the case can arrange a viewing.
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