Payout given after child witness was put at risk
15 Feb 2012
A family have been awarded more than GBP600,000 after the Crown
Prosecution Service (CPS) and Met Police admitted putting a child
witness at risk.
The child, who was 16 at the time, agreed to make a statement after
witnessing a violent gang attack on the express promise that he
could maintain his anonymity, the BBC reported.
However, following a series of failures, his name and address were
accidently given to gang members who started a campaign of
harassment and intimidation.
As a result the whole family, including other children, had to be
placed in a witness protection scheme.
This has involved them relocating to another part of the country
without being able to say goodbye or explain the situation to
friends or family.
The compensation was awarded in 2008 but only came to light when
the CPS was questioned about a large payment following a Freedom of
Information Request.
A spokesperson for the CPS said: "The CPS recognised that its
actions in this case fell below our accepted standard and, together
with the Metropolitan Police Service, reached an agreed settlement
of damages and an apology with the parties concerned."
However, the family told BBC Radio 4 that no sum of money would
return the boy's youth and in future he would probably just look
away instead of acting as a witness.
Earlier this month Claire Waxman was also provided with
compensation after the CPS admitted failings in its duty of
care.
The organisation permitted her stalker of eight years to launch a
civil
case against her and, in doing so, breach his restraining
order.
