VWTC/09/05
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1. A number of completed questionnaires have now been returned and these will be discussed at a meeting between the Victims and Witnesses Unit, Anne Houston of Children 1 st, Tommy Cuthbert of Skills for Justice and Ann Mitchell of Edinburgh Child Protection Committee with a view to producing an outline strategy for the consideration of the sub-group.
2. Organisations which have not yet completed their questionnaire are invited to do so.
3. From discussions the Victims and Witnesses Unit field officer has had with local CPCs it is emerging that a national training strategy would be welcomed particularly among non-court practitioners. Particularly useful in their view would be a training pack covering the special measures though it is recognised that the proposed Vulnerable Witnesses Act Guidance pack might fulfil that role and a series of half day seminars aimed at raising awareness among CPC members and social work departments.
4. Members are invited to say whether their organisations would be willing to make presentations or participate in other ways in any seminars or workshops which might be organised as part of a national training strategy.
5. The adequacy of training provision in respect of the Act will be monitored and evaluated and a draft specification for that work was issued to the VWISG on 10 March for comment by 18 March.
SEJD
Victims and Witnesses Unit
March 2005