Article: Straw moves to change law over anonymous witnesses

THE next steps to secure the use of anonymous witnesses will be announced within days, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said yesterday.

He confirmed he was "looking at proposals to change the law" after a Pounds 6m murder trial collapsed at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

Mr Straw said: "I am looking at the issue of anonymous witnesses with urgency and hope to make further announcements over the next few days.

"There is a difficult balance to strike here, between giving witnesses who fear for their safety the confidence to give evidence in court and ensuring that the innocent people are not convicted in the courts.

"But it is vital for the public's confidence in the justice system that witnesses are ...

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