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Interactive Court – Youthmaintenance2026-03-31T11:15:47+01:00
Illustration of a court building waiting room. The boy and blonde woman are seated on a purple sofa. They are both focusing on a man in a blue jumper in the chair opposite them. To the right, a woman in a teal blazer is seated in a chair in front of a table with a notepad and pen on. There is a door behind her. There are clickable question marks on all the characters in this scene, as well as on the notepad and the door. A purple navigation menu along the bottom of the illustration has options “Outside court”, “Security”, “Waiting room”, “Courtrooms”, “Live link rooms” and “After court” in white font.

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.

 

Use the play button below to read aloud.

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 or to post about the case on social media.

 

Use the play button below to read aloud.

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.

 

Use the play button below to read aloud.

Parent, carer or guardian

Your parent, carer or guardian will be able to come with you to court. They can sit with you in the witness waiting area while you wait to give your evidence.

 

Use the play button below to read aloud.

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 or live link room.

Before you give your evidence, a member of the legal team may speak with you while you’re waiting in the witness waiting area.

If you’re a witness called by the prosecution, this may be the CPS prosecutor. If you’re a witness called by the defence, this may be the defence lawyer.

 

Use the play button below to read aloud.

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 interview, you’ll likely watch this a few days before the start of the trial to refresh your memory. But if you’ve not watched it, the officer in the case can arrange a viewing.

 

Use the play button below to read aloud.

  • Outside court
  • Security
  • Waiting room
  • Courtrooms
  • Live link rooms
  • After court

Use the slider located at the bottom of each screen to move through the room.

Tap each [?] hotspot to find out what 
to expect when attending court.

  • Change Location
    • Outside court
    • Security
    • Waiting room
    • Courtrooms
    • Live link rooms
    • After court
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