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The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) is required to call the victims and witnesses of crime to court to give evidence in the prosecution of cases. For the purpose of this document, unless otherwise specified, when the term witnesses is used it refers to both victims and witnesses.
When witnesses are required to attend court the PPS wish to make this process as easy for them as possible. PPS will pay travel and subsistence expenses and compensates witnesses for loss of earnings in attending, subject to daily capped rates. PPS also provides additional support services to witnesses who are considered to be particularly vulnerable in different ways.
This document sets out PPS polices with regard to inviting and supporting members of the public as witnesses in the prosecution of crimes and reimbursing their expenses. This policy has been drafted in compliance with victims’ rights as set out in the EU Victims Directive, and the Victim’s Charter.