The problem of people who, for example, seeing crimes being committed does not want to testify, has received a lot of attention recently.
But according to witness supporters from the Crime Victim Support who SVT spoke to, it is not just because in some cases there may be a threat from gang criminals.
May create uncertainty
People often testify about what they saw to the police in fairly close connection with the crime being committed, but then it can take a long time before charges are brought and the case ends up in the district court.
According to Tilda Blick, this can create uncertainty for the witness.
- It can be quite difficult to get this summons in the mailbox and is expected to remember what you said to the police and what happened, she says and believes that it is another situation where they can support witnesses.
No obligation
The police have an obligation to inform crime victims that they can receive support, but there is not the same obligation for witnesses.
Tilda Blick's opinion is that it varies whether police officers inform that witness support exists - or not.
Hear her tell more in the clip above.
The police in Bergslagen are positive about informing witnesses that there is support and the explanation that it is missed may be, among other things, that the focus is on the person who has been the victim of a crime.
Have you witnessed a crime? Were you offered support or not? Get in touch with us by emailing orebro@svt.se. You can be anonymous.