Police and the courts should give much more support to witnesses if street violence is to be reduced, according to a new report.
There should be a target of 60 minutes for a witness statement to be given, and cameras should be used to record statements at the scene which can be given in court, says the charity Witness Confident.
It commissioned research which showed that 55% of university students believe that if they were mugged on a busy street none of the witnesses would give the police a statement.
That belief is held by substantially more women students (61%) than men (48%).
Of those students who believe no witness would give the police a statement, 20% said they thought it because people are too self-centred, 12% because it is so much hassle, 8% because of fear of reprisal, and 5% because people would think it was a waste of time.
A spokesman for the charity said that with a 14% drop this year in the number of convictions and cautions for robbery and violent crime, a different approach is urgently needed if street violence is to be curbed.
The organisation's director, Guy Dehn, said: "Public policy must now recognise that witnesses - unlike victims of crime or consumers making complaints - have no immediate stake in the outcome.
"For them, the trials of call centres, surly officials, poor information and endless delays are not storms to be weathered but reasons to stay at home."The charity is also calling for witnesses to be put in direct contact with the right officer, and publication of data showing it is not a waste of time to be a witness.
