Volunteers’ justice rewards
Volunteers enjoyed some glitz and glamour as they were granted awards for their generosity and kindness to wintesses facing a day in court.
Witness service volunteers from around the county were invited to the event at The Orchard in Otham to celebrate their work. They were congratulated by Matthew Scott, Kent’s police and crime commissioner, and George Jessell, the high sheriff of Kent.
Every year more than 100 volunteers support witnesses in the county’s six magistrate courts and two crown courts. They help more than 6,000 people a year.
Awards were given out last Thursday to people who had been involved with the programme for more than five years. Among the recipients were Pam Dunford, Ruth Hardcastle, and Kim Downs, all of whom have given 20 years to helping those giving evidence, and therapy dog Poppy.
Mr Scott said: “We always think about the needs of the victims, and sometimes that means witnesses get forgotten about within the criminal justice system. It can be daunting to have to attend court and give evidence, so to have a friendly face from Citizens Advice Witness Service to support you through the process is fantastic.
“The volunteers do an amazing job, and I can’t thank them enough for what they do. They help to ensure the witness can give the best evidence they can, which in turn helps the police brings offenders to justice.”