A chaplaincy service, giving support to victims of crime and relatives of defendants, has started at Bradford Crown Court.

The Bradford Court Chaplaincy Service was already in place at the city’s magistrates and coroner’s courts but has now been extended to the crown courts.

The service’s honorary president, Professor Lord Patel, of Bradford, will be the key speaker at an inauguration ceremony for the service, at Bradford Combined Courts Centre next month. The Recorder of Bradford, Judge James Stewart QC, will also attend.

Volunteers, aged between 22 and 73, from a variety of faith backgrounds and with at least six months experience at the magistrates court, have been selected to provide free and confidential support to anyone who attends the crown court, including court staff.

Many of the volunteers have held positions of responsibility in education, health and legal professions.

Magistrate Mary Carroll, chairman of trustees of the service, said the crown court was a more forbidding setting than magistrates courts.

Mrs Carroll said: “Serious crime can have a devastating and lasting impact on the primary victims, and also on the family and friends of those accused, or convicted, of such offences.

“Our Chaplains and volunteers need to be well prepared and confident to undertake this highly confidential and complex work, and have undergone additional training.”

Chaplaincy manager, the Reverend Dr Barry Barton, and Muslim Chaplain, Latif Mir, are working with court staff, Probation, Witness Support and outside support services.

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