Edited by Penny Cooper, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Criminal Policy Research, Birkbeck, University of London, and Heather Norton, Resident Judge, Canterbury Crown Court

HHJ Heather Norton was called to the Bar in 1988. She is now the Resident Judge at Canterbury Crown Court. She practised from 23 Essex Street and QEB Hollis Whiteman for 25 years as a criminal barrister. In 2012, she was appointed a circuit judge (heavyweight crime) authorised to try serious sexual crime. She has substantial experience both as an advocate and as a Judge in the management and trial of serious sexual offences and cases involving defendants or witnesses who are vulnerable due to their age, communication difficulties or their mental or physical health. She has also lectured on issues relating to Vulnerable witnesses and sexual offences and drafted best practice guidance to be followed throughout Kent for trials involving vulnerable people.

Professor Penny Cooper was called to the Bar in 1990 and is a door tenant at 39 Essex Chambers. She has also been a legal academic since 2002. She became a professor in 2009, was an Associate Dean of City Law School for many years and now holds two visiting professorships at London Law Schools. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Criminal Policy Research and leads the Vulnerability in the Courts research project. She is the Co-founder and Chair of The Advocates' Gateway and author/co-author of numerous books, toolkits and peer-reviewed articles on vulnerable witnesses and parties. Penny designed the English witness intermediary model, created the 'ground rules approach' and co-authors witness intermediary procedural guidance in three jurisdictions. She regularly lectures in the United Kingdom and overseas.

Emma Arbuthnot, Chief Magistrates of England and Wales
Tracy Ayling QC, barrister, 2 Bedford Row
Miranda Bevan, London School of Economics
Rosina Cottage QC, Red Lion Chambers
Laura Farrugia, Registered Intermediary
Felicity Gerry QC, Carmelite Chambers
Linda Harlow, The Witness Service
Jessica Jacobson, Director of the Institute for Criminal Policy Research at Birkbeck, University of London
Ruth Marchant, co-director, Triangle
Michelle Mattison, lecturer in psychology at the University of Chester
Rebecca Milne, Professor of Forensic Psychology at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth
Joshua Normanton, barrister at 5 Paper Buildings
Angela Rafferty QC, barrister at Drystone Chambers
Naomi Redhouse, District Judge (magistrates' courts)
Karen Robinson, barrister, QEB Hollis Whiteman
Kevin Smith, National Vulnerable Witness Adviser for the National Crime Agency
Simon Taylor, barrister at 6 Pump Court
David Wurtzel, Fellow Emeritus of City University London, Bencher of Middle Temple and Door Tenant of Red Lion Chambers