POLICE officers must improve how they summarise evidence files for prosecutors or risk cases failing to get to court, a report has revealed.

The report, undertaken by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, also shows that Lancashire Police could also see other cases collapse because of their failure to identify and protect vulnerable witnesses.

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Inspectors looked at 10 cases involving potentially vulnerable witnesses, and in half they found the summary of evidence did not contain the required elements to prove that a crime took place.

In two cases involving interviews the files did not contain an adequate summary of the interview and in another file the answers the defendant gave to key questions were not outlined accurately.

The report also revealed that officers only identified victims as being vulnerable in 30 per cent of cases, and in all instances did not request special measures or enhancements to ensure that the victim or witness could give their best evidence.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Wendy Williams said: “Although we found some improvements during this inspection, the approach by police and prosecutors to preparing case files was still not good enough. Insufficient consideration was being given to the needs of vulnerable victims and witnesses.”

A police spokesman said: “We welcome this report and while the quality of police reports continues to get better we recognise that there is more we can do so that the needs of victims and witnesses are put firstand they are enabled to give their best evidence in court.”