Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-24)

Information about Registered Intermediaries as part of the Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme.

What is a Registered Intermediary?

A Registered Intermediary is an impartial, self-employed, communication specialist who enables vulnerable witnesses and complainants to give evidence to the police and to the court in criminal trials.

A witness might be vulnerable due to their age, or a learning, mental or physical disability or disorder.

Registered Intermediaries aim to facilitate two-way communication with the witness and enable them to give their best evidence. They can often be the difference between a witness being able to give evidence or not.

Registered Intermediaries conduct an assessment and outline orally and in writing, the communication needs of the vulnerable witness and the adjustments necessary to meet those needs.

Registered Intermediaries come from a variety of professional backgrounds such as speech & language therapy, teaching and social work. They have been recruited and selected by the Ministry of Justice and have successfully completed training and assessment.

Registered Intermediaries are provided through the Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme, which facilitates communication with around 700 victims and witnesses every month. This scheme allows police officers and crown prosecutors to access high quality professional support when needed.

Requesting a Registered Intermediary

The National Crime Agency manage the scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Registered intermediaries are approved by the Ministry of Justice and are arranged and paid for by individual customers (typically police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service).

If you are a police officer or prosecutor you can request a Registered Intermediary by contacting the Major Crime Investigation Support team on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Defendants in criminal cases and parties in family, civil and tribunal cases who need intermediary assistance to participate in a hearing, must use HMCTS intermediary services (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hmcts-intermediary-services).

We have published Guidance for end-users on Working with Deaf People in the Criminal Justice System (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f350c83e90e0732e349a7c3/working-deaf-people-cjs-guidance.pdf) (PDF, 239 KB, 8 pages) . This includes instructions on when and how to request the assistance of a deaf Registered Intermediary. Please refer to this if you are a police officer or prosecutor assisting a deaf person.

Becoming a Registered Intermediary

The Ministry of Justice is investing to increase the number of Registered Intermediaries.

To register your interest in becoming a Registered Intermediary or for further information contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Annual reports

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/687778a40263c35f52e4dc3b/witness-intermediary-scheme-annual-report-2024.pdf) (PDF, 547 KB, 38 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2024 (Cymraeg) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68820d592b6fd60b7c160fe6/Witness_Intermediary_Scheme_Annual_Report_2024_CY.pdf) (PDF, 663 KB, 41 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/664487d0993111924d9d3504/Witness_Intermediary_Scheme_Annual_Report_2023.pdf) (PDF, 609 KB, 39 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2023 (Cymraeg) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6644726d993111924d9d3488/Witness_Intermediary_Scheme_Annual_Report_2023__Cymraeg_.pdf) (PDF, 618 KB, 43 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2022 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64671593d23688000c5bdfba/witness-intermediary-scheme-annual-report-2022.pdf) (PDF, 706 KB, 42 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2022 (Cymraeg) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e48619bc2b520014a0043a/witness-intermediary-scheme-annual-report-2022-cymraeg.pdf) (PDF, 686 KB, 47 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2020 to 2021 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/628ba28ed3bf7f1f4947d349/wis-annual-report-2020-2021.pdf) (PDF, 1.06 MB, 47 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2019 to 2020 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f69b30ae90e077f6304c87f/witness-intermediary-scheme-annual-report-2019-2020.pdf) (PDF, 1.11 MB, 62 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2019 to 2020 (Cymraeg) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/607ff07ce90e076aa86c8f04/witness-intermediary-scheme-annual-report-2019-20-cym.pdf) (PDF, 1.17 MB, 62 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2018 to 2019 (Cymraeg) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ec7d5b8d3bf7f460491201b/witness-intermediary-scheme-annual-report-2018-2019-cymraeg.pdf) (PDF, 1.33 MB, 51 pages)

Witness Intermediary Scheme Annual Report 2018 to 2019 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f5217d58fa8f535b7ed3f7c/witness-inter-scheme-annual-report-2018-19.pdf) (PDF, 1.57 MB, 53 pages)

Procedural Guidance

Ministry of Justice Registered Intermediary Procedural Guidance (2024) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/671b819bfc28a840abc6d26d/Registered_Intermediary_Procedural_Guidance_Manual_2024__Official_.pdf) (PDF, 1.02 MB, 63 pages)

Ministry of Justice Registered Intermediary Procedural Guidance 2024 (Cymraeg) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/671b817b956d9b52e8c6d272/CY_-_Registered_Intermediary_Procedural_Guidance_Manual_2024.pdf) (PDF, 1020 KB, 63 pages)