Criminal and family advocates should be specially trained and certified to handle vulnerable people in court proceedings, the Advocacy Training Council has recommended.

In a report published this week, it said evidence suggests that vulnerable witnesses and defendants ‘frequently face almost insurmountable barriers to justice’ and there is ‘an urgent need’ to address the ‘significant problems’ faced by them in the court system.

Among its 48 recommendations, the ATC said training in how to handle vulnerable witnesses and defendants should be compulsory for all advocates at every stage of their career to help them identify where a vulnerability exists and tailor their questioning accordingly.

It said the use of leading questions in cross-examining vulnerable people should be a particular focus of training.

The report also recommended that advocates should be certified to handle cases involving vulnerable witnesses and defendants.

While aimed at addressing criticism of barristers in handling vulnerable people, the report recommended that solicitor-advocates undergo similar compulsory training.

The report also found that police needed to improve training and preparation for interviewing vulnerable people, and noted that the role of judges was ‘pivotal’ to ensure trials were managed fairly.

Jo Cooper, chair of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates, said: ‘The combative culture in the Crown court may be hard to turn around, but there plainly is a need to transform the management of vulnerable witnesses.’

He said judges and advocates could take lessons from the youth court, where the culture is more supportive.