Guidance

Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme

Information about Registered Intermediaries as part of the Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme.

From:
Ministry of Justice
Published
25 January 2019
Last updated
419 AprilMay 20222023 — See all updates

What is a Registered Intermediary?

A Registered Intermediary is a self-employed communication specialist who helps vulnerable witnesses and complainants to give evidence to the police and to the court in criminal trials.

A witness might need the help of a Registered Intermediary because of their age, or a learning, mental or physical disability or disorder. They can often be the difference between a witness being able to give evidence or not.

Registered Intermediaries come from a variety of professional backgrounds such as speech & language therapy, teaching and social work. They have been recruited and selected by the Ministry of Justice and have successfully completed training and assessment.

Registered Intermediaries are provided through the Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme, which typically helps around 500 victims and witnesses every month. This scheme allows police officers and crown prosecutors to access high quality professional support when needed.

Requesting a Registered Intermediary

The National Crime Agency manage the scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Registered intermediaries are approved by the Ministry of Justice and are arranged and paid for by individual customers (typically police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service).

If you are a police officer or prosecutor you can request a Registered Intermediary by contacting the Major Crime Investigation Support team on 0345 000 5463.

Defendants in criminal cases and parties in family, civil and tribunal cases who need intermediary assistance to participate in a hearing, must use HMCTS intermediary services.

We have published Guidance for end-users on Working with Deaf People in the Criminal Justice System (PDF, 239 KB, 8 pages) . This includes instructions on when and how to request the assistance of a deaf Registered Intermediary. Please refer to this if you are a police officer or prosecutor assisting a deaf person.

Becoming a Registered Intermediary

The Ministry of Justice is investing to increase the number of Registered Intermediaries.

To register your interest in becoming a Registered Intermediary or for further information contact RI.co-ord@nca.gov.uk

Annual reports

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2022 (PDF, 706 KB, 42 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2020 to 2021 (PDF, 1.06 MB, 47 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2019 to 2020 (PDF, 1.11 MB, 62 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2019 to 2020 (Cymraeg) (PDF, 1.17 MB, 62 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2018 to 2019 (Cymraeg) (PDF, 1.33 MB, 51 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2018 to 2019 (PDF, 1.57 MB, 53 pages)

Procedural Guidance

Ministry of Justice Registered Intermediary Procedural guidance (PDF, 1.42 MB, 81 pages)

Ministry of Justice Registered Intermediary Procedural guidance (Cymraeg) (PDF, 1.51 MB, 87 pages)

Published 25 January 2019
Last updated 419 AprilMay 20222023 + show all updates

  1. Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2021 to 2022 published.

  2. Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2020 to 2021 published.

  3. Link to covid-19 guidance removed.

  4. Guidance for intermediaries during the Covid-19 pandemic updated.

  5. Guidance for intermediaries during the Covid-19 pandemic updated.

  6. Ministry of Justice Registered Intermediary Procedural guidance updated.

  7. Guidance for intermediaries during the Covid-19 pandemic document updated.

  8. Guidance for intermediaries during the Covid-19 pandemic updated.

  9. Ministry of Justice Registered Intermediary Procedural guidance updated.

  10. Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2019 to 2020 published.

  11. Guidance for intermediaries during the Covid-19 pandemic updated.

  12. Guidance for end-users on Working with Deaf People in the Criminal Justice System published.

  13. Cymraeg version of the Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2018 to 2019 published.

  14. Guidance for intermediaries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

  15. WIS Annual Report 2018 to 2019, Registered Intermediary Procedural guidance, QAB strategy published.

  16. First published.

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