VICTIMS of crime and witnesses who live in rural areas will soon be able to give live evidence in trials without travelling to a courtroom.

New live link video vans could soon be introduced in North Yorkshire, after more than £300,000 was granted to the Police and Crime Commissioner's office by the Police Transformation Fund.

Julia Mulligan submitted a bid for the funds to develop mobile live links, and said she was pleased to confirm the funding - which will benefit people in rural areas or who face physical challenges in getting to court - had been granted.

About 15 per cent of all trials in North Yorkshire are abandoned due to victims or witnesses being unable to attend or withdrawing, and the mobile live link system - which will be set up in an adapted mobile home - is expected to improve this.

Mrs Mulligan said: "I have been championing this scheme for some time now, so I am delighted that the Home Secretary has chosen to support me with this money. I've teamed up with my fellow PCC in Cumbria, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service to explore how this might be done.

"For victims travelling to court by public transport from isolated rural areas, sometimes there are very limited options. This idea would mean there would be no fear of them coming face-to-face with the defendant in their case on the bus or train. If successful, the final solution will also shore up the important concept of 'local justice', in the face of continued financial pressures."

Current solutions for streaming into courts have been hampered by limited broadband, mobile data coverage and low internet speeds in rural areas, and these funds will be used to bring together work and ideas from across the country, produce a business case and technical specification for a practical solution, which could then be rolled out.