Victims of crime in Leeds can now give witness statements over the phone

The service requires the consent of the witness, who must be over 18.

An individual’s vulnerability is also taken into consideration.

It will be available across a range of different offences and incidents, in both Leeds and Bradford, with each case assessed for its suitability.

The information will then be entered into the Force's systems by an officer.

The witness will then receive an online link via e-mail, which can be accessed from any computer or device.

Specific personal details and a security code provided by the officer will be needed to view and approve the statement.

West Yorkshire Police's Assistant Chief Constable Catherine Hankinson said: “As a victim and witness focused organisation, we are doing everything we can to make the experience of engaging with the police as positive as possible.

“By offering this service, it increases the convenience for witnesses and also allows them to remain in an environment, which is entirely comfortable.

“Not only does it remove the need to visit a police station to provide a statement, but similarly the journey of an officer in visiting an address.

“This saves both time and money, allowing us to invest our resources back into the places where they are most needed and against the priorities of the public.

“We are also saving thousands of pounds a year, having developed this system entirely ‘in house’.

“Behind the scenes, the technology we have adopted will bring about further efficiencies in processing the information itself, which will again benefit the speed of any investigation.

“The security of the process has also been a paramount consideration throughout and is in keeping with national policing requirements and practices.

“We are initially trialling this approach in the Districts containing our biggest cities and if successful, we will look towards a roll-out across the rest of the county.”

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Victims and witnesses remain at the heart of the services we provide and this new system aligns with that vision.

“Maintaining pace with technological advances is an important part of our approach to keeping our communities safe, which in the past has included the creation of a live chat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website along with other online reporting tools.

“This latest step, which is entirely optional, can bring a number of benefits where the witness feels it is appropriate. I will of course be keeping an eye on the results of the pilot as well as seeking feedback from partners.”