A MAJOR investment is set to transform the way vulnerable and isolated people can give evidence in court.

The government has awarded £300,000 to develop a scheme that will enable victims and witnesses in North Yorkshire to give evidence from a mobile home in their community rather than have to travel to court.

Currently around 15 per cent of trials in the county are discontinued because the victim or a witness is absent or withdraws from the process.

A mobile live link solution would potentially mean that witness attendance rates increase, leading to improved outcomes at court.

The scheme has been promoted by North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan who welcomed the funding.

She said: “I have been championing this scheme for some time now, so I am delighted that the Home Secretary has chosen to support me with this money.

“I’ve teamed up with my fellow PCC in Cumbria, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service to explore how this might be done.

“It’s a very exciting and innovative project, that could make a real difference to people living in isolated and hard to reach areas, who face real practical challenges getting to court.”

Current solutions for streaming into courts have suffered difficulties in rural areas due to limited broadband and mobile data coverage and low internet speeds.

The new funds will be used to collate ideas from across the country to produce a full business case and the necessary technical specification for the mobile live link to become a reality.

The scheme could then be rolled out nationally.

Ms Mulligan said: “For victims travelling to court by public transport from isolated rural areas, sometimes there are very limited options.

“This idea would mean there would be no fear of them coming face-to-face with the defendant in their case on the bus or train.

“If successful, the final solution will also shore up the important concept of ‘local justice’, in the face of continued financial pressures.”