Important update for victims and witnesses: Criminal Bar Association strike action January 2025.
Being the victim of a crime or witnessing a crime can be a traumatic experience. Engaging with the criminal justice system can sometimes add to the stresses created by this experience. The video below will explain the support and services you can expect from the PPS as your case moves through the criminal justice system.
In this section we will provide victims and witnesses with the information they need to minimise the disruption and upset caused to them.
Our Victim and Witness Policy explains the standards of service that victims and witnesses can expect from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). You can read the policy in full by clicking the link.
Victim Charter
The Victim Charter sets out the entitlements and services that victims of crime in Northern Ireland can expect to receive from a range of service providers, including the Public Prosecution Service. You can read the Charter by visiting the Department of Justice website.
Witness Charter
Similarly, the Witness Charter sets out the entitlements and services that witnesses of crime in Northern Ireland can expect to receive from a range of service providers. You can read the Witness Charter on the Department of Justice website.
If you have any queries about the case you are involved in you should contact the Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU). More details about the Unit, including contact numbers, can be found by clicking the link.
Further information for victims and witnesses can be found in the following sections:
- The Prosecution Process
- Attending Court
- Help for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses
- Legal terms explained
- Witness Expenses