GIVING evidence to a court full of strangers would be a daunting prospect for most people. You take the stand and are questioned by barristers and possibly the judge with your evidence playing a part in deciding someone’s future.

Fortunately there is a somewhat forgotten court service which provide support and encouragement for people who find themselves in that position.

Last year the Witness Service, which is part of the charity Victim Support, helped more than 1,400 witnesses, victims and their families who were called to Basildon Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court to give evidence.

What makes the people who work for the service even more remarkable is most of them are volunteers.

Senior witness service manager, Fran Kramer, who oversees all the criminal courts in Essex, said the service offers support to witnesses, not only while a case is at court, but also beforehand and after proceedings have finished.

Mrs Kramer said: “My role is to make contact with witnesses beforehand, possibly offer them a pre-trial familiarising visit, find out what their particular concerns or worries may be and try to alleviate those concerns.

“Most people have no knowledge of the criminal justice system until they are called to give evidence and that could be some time after the incident. Therefore some of the feelings and emotions they felt at the time are reawakened.”

Mrs Kramer said the service, which is part Government-funded, but also relies on fundraising and donations, is independent of all the other organisations in the court system and its function is to support all witnesses coming to court – whether they are for the prosecution or the defence.

While Mrs Kramer oversees the service, it is dependent on the volunteers who give up their time to help witnesses.

She said: “We work with a team of trained volunteers. My role is to manage that team and try to ensure the most appropriate support is available to the individual witnesses.

“Volunteers commit at least one day a week.

“Because my role is one of managing the team, it is the volunteers who deliver the service to the witnesses.

“Without the volunteers we could not offer the professional service we are able to.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at any Essex court or who would be interested in becoming a community volunteer, which would involve visiting victims of crime in their home or another safe place after an incident, should contact Mrs Kramer on 01268 458127.