MPs call for better treatment of court witnesses with mental health problems

Witnesses who have mental health problems in court cases are badly treated by the criminal justice system, MPs in the United Kingdom have said.

A report by MPs on the Justice Committee voices deep concerns about victims and witnesses with mental health problems, who are often not recognised by prosecutors as credible witnesses or helped to be a witness.

The report found that the service was failing victims and witnesses with any history of mental distress by dropping cases before they get to court and, where their mental health was in question, failing to support them to give good …