A NEW scheme being launched in Dorset next month will give the most vulnerable victims of crime a new voice.

That's the pledge from the county's chief crown prosecutor, who is championing a groundbreaking initiative to help children and adults with learning difficulties have their say in court.

Kate Brown believes the use of specially trained intermediaries will ensure that more criminals are brought to justice.

The go-betweens have already been piloted in six areas, paving the way for the scheme to be rolled out across the country.

Kate told the Daily Echo: "If justice isn't available to everyone, it's not justice.

"In the past, criminals have sought out the most vulnerable members of our society, knowing that it was unlikely that their victims would be able to give evidence in court.

"Now, with intermediaries giving victims a new voice, there is a much greater chance that the perpetrators of those crimes will be brought to justice.

"By building up a rapport, intermediaries will make witnesses and victims feel more comfortable from the early stage of investigations, right through to court proceedings."

Children under 17 are eligible as well as adults whose quality of evidence is likely to be affected by a mental disorder, learning difficulties or physical disability.

According to a recent survey by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, half of all children who went to court didn't understand some of the questions being asked by lawyers.

Speech and language therapist Ruth Douglass, 31, has been working as an intermediary for more than two years, travelling across the country to provide support to vulnerable prosecution and defence witnesses.

She said: "I've been involved in all sorts of cases, particularly sexual offences. It is really important that people who have been victims of crime have the opportunity to make their voices heard.

"We help them express themselves in court; if they can't understand a question from a barrister we ensure it is put in a more understandable way.

"Legal jargon can be very confusing and it is important that witnesses and victims receive the support they need.

"Giving evidence in court is an ordeal for anyone, but for children and adults with learning difficulties it is even more daunting. Communication is the key."

l The 150 intermediaries recruited so far, mainly teachers and speech and language therapists, have been trained by the Inns of Court school of law which also trains barristers.