We provide intermediary services for defendants in the criminal courts, and for respondents in family proceedings across England and Wales. We support the justice system at all levels, advising police officers, lawyers, judges, magistrates, witness service supporters, court personnel and probation officers – to maximise communication effectiveness during proceedings.

We seek to support the service user, whilst acting as an impartial officer of the court and our sole job is to facilitate communication between all parties.

Our work includes:

  • assessing a person’s communication needs and advising the court on how proceedings should be adapted to meet those needs
  • assisting lawyers in planning how to ask questions when a defendant gives evidence, or suggesting ways in which the environment for questioning could be adapted to minimise anxiety so that the person can give their best evidence
  • supporting a service user to give instructions during a conference with their legal team
  • our role also becomes much broader and complex when working with defendants in criminal cases or respondents in family courts to that of the role of a witness intermediary. This is due to the nature of evidence inference, legalities of deals and pleas, and the need to instruct a legal team effectively

Core to our work is a passion for ensuring people with communication difficulties are treated fairly in the legal system. We have developed our expertise through working with more than 10,000 people in the courts, and we have extensive experience working with people with all forms of communication disorder.

Find out more about our work in family proceedings and criminal proceedings.

If you require the services of an intermediary in any setting, make a referral through our online portal.

For more information, call 0121 663 0931 or email admin@communicourt.co.uk.