Increasingly courts will have access to liaison and diversion services (in England) and criminal justice liaison services (in Wales), see Section 13. Services in England will reflect a common service specification, set by NHS England, which includes children and adults, and a wide range of mental health, disability, substance misuse and social vulnerabilities.

Liaison and diversion and criminal justice liaison services will cover police custody and court settings. Liaison and diversion and criminal justice liaison services will be staffed by qualified healthcare professionals, with access to mental health, learning disability and other expertise. 

An integral part of their role will be to provide information to members of the judiciary and court staff concerning the particular needs of individual defendants, and ways in which they can be supported during court proceedings.