This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Ethnic minority networking event
26/06/2003
Members of ethnic minority communities from across the Highlands and Islands are being invited to attend a criminal justice system information and networking event on Saturday 28 June at 1pm in the Crown Court Hotel, Inverness.
Solicitor General, Elish Angiolini QC, will be attending the event, which will provide an opportunity for members of minority communities to meet staff from Victim Support Scotland, the Area Procurator Fiscal's office, and other criminal justice partners from the Highland and Islands area.
Victim Support Scotland will also launch a new initiative which will give increased support to the victims of racist crimes.
Area Procurator Fiscal for Highland and Islands, Graeme Napier said:
"This is a great opportunity to come along and meet staff from the Area Procurator Fiscal's office, and our partners in the criminal justice system. We will be providing information on how racist crime is dealt with, and the support systems available to victims of such crimes.
"Racially motivated crime is a very serious issue, and it is important for us to demonstrate to minority communities that we treat it very seriously indeed. By holding informal events like these, we hope to make criminal justice less intimidating and confusing for victims and witnesses."
Victim Support Scotland will be launching the Highland Against Racist Crime project, which will provide practical and emotional support to any individual who is a victim of racist abuse.
Hamish Wood, Victim Support Scotland said:
"Victim Support is committed to improving the quality of service that we offer to the community, and we welcome the opportunity to work jointly with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to achieve this.
With the launch of the Highland Against Racist Crime (HARC) initiative, we will be able to provide dedicated support to the victims of racist crime across Highland."
The joint event is part of an ongoing process of partnership working with agencies like VSS, in the Highland and Islands area.
Victim Support Scotland operates through a network of locally organised Victim Support groups encouraging local involvement in a national service through a local management committee structure. Victim Support Scotland has had a presence in Highland since 1988. Victim Support Highland covers a large geographical area and although the main office is in Inverness there is a presence throughout Highland with the Inverness service covering Badenoch & Strathspey, Caithness & Sutherland, Inverness, Nairn, Ross, Cromarty & Skye and a Lochaber service covering Lochaber.
The event is an informal reception. All are welcome to attend, and refreshments will be provided.