This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Vulnerable witness officers
16/01/2006
The first meeting of a local steering group supporting one of two pilot schemes for vulnerable witness officer schemes took place in Ayrshire today.
Alistair McKie is the Vulnerable Witness Officer for Ayrshire tasked with providing co-ordination and monitoring of service and support provision for adult vulnerable and child witnesses.
The other pilot area is Aberdeen where a first meeting is planned for next month.
The steering groups will consider how lessons learned from the pilot might improve the court experience of such witnesses right across Scotland throughout all investigative and legal proceedings in criminal, civil and children's hearing court proceedings.
Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said:
"Our courts and laws are being modernised to provide a public justice service designed around the needs of the law-abiding many, and not for the convenience of the law-breaking few.
"Through new legislation and practical improvements our courts are increasing their effectiveness in dealing with criminals, speeding up results for victims and families, and reducing unnecessary stress for witnesses.
"But we want to do more. We want best local practice to become standard national practice. We must do all we can to improve the whole experience of child and vulnerable witnesses as they go through the justice system. So I am delighted that we have established pilot projects to establish what works well and to disseminate the lessons learned.
"The lessons learned here - and in the other pilot area, Aberdeen - can help reduce the worry felt by child and adult vulnerable witnesses in courts across Scotland."
The aim of the pilot schemes is to explore and make recommendations on:
- The provision of consistent, integrated and accountable services to support child witnesses and adult vulnerable witnesses throughout all legal proceedings, with effective and high quality standards of delivery
- How this could be better achieved across Scotland.
Both pilot schemes will run until October 2007. The pilot areas were chosen because of existing good joint agency working and to provide a contrast of: urban and rural populations; geographical spread; and, because of the complexity of inter agency boundaries.
The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act (phase 1 - for child witnesses in criminal justice solemn and children's hearing court proceedings) came into force in April 2005, with phase 2 (for adult vulnerable witnesses in criminal justice solemn and children's hearing court proceedings) due for implementation in April 2006.