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Courts: Labour considers protecting young and vulnerable victims from prosecution interrogation

Sir Keir Starmer leads radical review into justice after spate of cases in which young and vulnerable victims were forced to relive the horror of their experiences

Labour will consider whether court prosecutors should be stopped from questioning young and vulnerable victims as part of plans for a radical shake-up of justice.

Former chief prosecutor Sir Keir Starmer, who is now Labour’s advisor on victims’ issues, suggested that judges could cross-examine witnesses to prevent them from being caught between “fierce” prosecution and defence attacks.

It is one of a number of options being set out by Labour’s newly launched victims’ taskforce to give greater protections to vulnerable witnesses in court.

The taskforce met victims and justice groups yesterday to discuss possible changes to the law, should Labour win the next election.

Other proposals considered include making it mandatory for those working with children to report suspected sexual abuse and giving victims the legal right to demand a review of their case if it is dropped.

Setting up specialist clinics where victims can also get access to the criminal justice system was also discussed.

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