A TOP West Mercia police officer is playing a key role in a national campaign to remove flaws in the criminal justice system and bring further offenders to justice.

Deputy Chief Constable Peter Neyroud is playing a key role in the launch, which is aimed at halting the number of criminals evading punishment due to "problems" in the system.

Mr Neyroud feels many members of the public are deterred from coming forward as witnesses, making it increasingly difficult to gather evidence to bring offenders in front of the courts.

During the past three months alone, 24 cases involving serious crimes of violence due for hearing in courts within West Mercia have been discontinued due to the failure of victims to attend or because they have declined to give evidence.

"In most of the cases it's clear they haven't gone forward to give evidence because they feel vulnerable or have lost faith in the system," said Mr Neyroud.

"This problem will continue to escalate unless urgent action is taken to overhaul the criminal justice system in a way which will help victims and witnesses first - not last - and will respond effectively to their needs and fears."

Mr Neyroud has prepared a special report on the experiences of victims and witnesses as part of the campaign, which is being mounted by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Despite progress in the Victims Charter, he points out in the report that victims and relatives have no right to be heard, cannot challenge misleading statements made against them in mitigation in a court room environment, which can often feel hostile.

He also strongly criticises the fact witnesses and victims are subject to intimidation and distress because many courts do not provide separate waiting areas for themselves and for defendants and defence witnesses.

They also often face hostile public galleries while in court and are subjected to recalling complex or traumatic events, which both made the person feel vulnerable.

ACPO is now calling for a modern integrated court system to put witnesses and victims first.

This would include buildings with accommodation to separate victims and prosecution witnesses from defendants and their witnesses, and a shift to the use of taped and video taped evidence rather than sole reliance on oral testimony.

Other considerations would be for victims to inform the court about the impacts of crimes on them, and the right to challenge misleading and accurate information given at mitigation.