There are three new suites for child witnesses

New waiting rooms for child witnesses are intended to ease the pressure on them before they give evidence.

And all witnesses can now be escorted from reception rooms to protected video suites via a secure route.

The government has earmarked �27m to help improve such facilities in the hope of encouraging people to come forward and give evidence.

Courts Minister, Chris Leslie, said: "Often a just verdict hinges on people who suffered at the hands of criminals."

He added: "It's important vulnerable witnesses do not need to face those accused of the crime in a communal area."