Inside the inaugural ‘Celebrating Services for Witnesses’ awards

Those who go above and beyond to help victims and witnesses through often traumatic court experience have been recognised at a national awards ceremony.

Giving evidence can be a painful and difficult experience, which often involves people having to recount one of the most horrific moments in their lives.

The inaugural ‘Celebrating Services for Witnesses’ awards ceremony, held in Nottingham on Friday night, has honoured the unrecognised people and agencies who spend their day to day lives supporting victims and witnesses to perform their invaluable role.

There were six award categories:

unsung hero award (individual)

specialist support award (team or individual)

frontline services award (individual)

significant improvements award (team or individual)

partnership award (team)

the Victims’ Commissioner’s award (team or individual), presented by Baroness Helen Newlove, the Victim’s Commissioner.