Vulnerable witnesses will be relocated overseas for their own safety while a Witness Care Unit will be set up as part of planned legislation announced last Friday.

Reading the Throne Speech, Governor Sir Richard Gozney said: "The protection of witnesses in cases of serious crime is one such area in need of direct practical and legislative intervention.

"To this end the Government will establish a Witness Care Unit to provide practical support and protection to witnesses through a police liaison assigned for this purpose. Additionally, the Government will enact a Justice Protection Bill to provide a legislative framework for the hopefully rare instance where a witness has to be relocated for their own safety. This regional programme enjoys the support of other Overseas Territories and the CARICOM nations."

Expanding on the progress of the plans, Director of Public Prosecutions Rory Field said later: "A premises has been found and set aside for the witness unit to operate out of. Currently, staff are also being recruited. The unit is at the moment being developed to make the experience of going to court less difficult for witnesses, particularly vulnerable witnesses either because of their age or some other reason."