AN EVENT aimed at improving access to justice for victims of crime is being held tomorrow.

The Chief Crown Prosecutor for North Yorkshire, Robert Turnbull, will open the one-day conference, which is being hosted by police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and social services from North Yorkshire and the City of York.

The conference, which is being held at Wetherby Racecourse, is aimed at improving the levels of service and support given to particularly vulnerable groups in society, who may need special help in reporting crimes and giving evidence, such as the elderly and people with learning disabilities.

About 160 delegates from a wide range of statutory and voluntary agencies will attend the event.

The keynote speakers will be Gary Fitzgerald, the chief executive of Action for Elder Abuse, Deborah Kitson, the director of the Ann Craft Foundation, and Fiona Venning, the deputy chief executive of Leeds MIND.

Updated: 12:00 Monday, January 20, 2003