Jurors at Bristol Crown Court to be offered counselling sessions
A pilot is being run in 15 courts across summer to help people involved in distressing cases
Last updated 8th May 2024
Jurors at Bristol Crown Court - and 14 other courts across the country - will be offered counselling sessions in major trials - for those who suffer mental and emotional strain during the cases.
It comes as currently, jurors who feel affected by what they have seen and heard are signposted to a GP or the Samaritans.
The pilot scheme will run from the summer, and it follows comments by the Ministry of Justice who found the limited levels of support which are currently on offer to jurors across the country can leave some feeling a sense of isolation.
During the scheme, there'll be an offer of six free counselling sessions - and there will also be 27/7 access for the jurors for a telephone support line - which'll offer advice and information.
Dr Hannah Fawcett, senior lecturer in forensic psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University, described it as "a positive first step in recognising some of the potential psychological challenges of participating in jury duty and supporting those who have been affected by distressing cases".
Justice minister Mike Freer said: "Juries are the cornerstone of the criminal justice system, and sitting on a trial is rightly regarded as the ultimate responsibility of an honest, law-abiding citizen.
"This pilot is an important step in assessing how we can best support jurors, who perform such a vital civic duty, often in complex, high-profile cases."
The pilot, funded by the Ministry of Justice, will run for 10 months in Leeds, Teesside, Liverpool, Carlisle, Mold, Oxford, Luton, Winchester, Bristol, Gloucester, Nottingham and Birmingham, as well as the Old Bailey, Snaresbrook and Kingston Upon Thames crown courts in London.