VULNERABLE WITNESSES ACT IMPLEMENTATION STEERING GROUP: EQUIPMENT AND ACCOMMODATION SUB GROUP - IDENTIFICATION OF REMOTE SITES - FIELD OFFICER REPORT

DescriptionVULNERABLE WITNESSES ACT IMPLEMENTATION STEERING GROUP: EQUIPMENT AND ACCOMMODATION SUB GROUP - IDENTIFICATION OF REMOTE SITES - FIELD OFFICER REPORT
ISBN
Official Print Publication Date
Website Publication DateJuly 27, 2005

    Listen

    VWEA/07/05

    This document is also available in pdf format (48k)

    1. The attached field officer's report (Annex A) provides the sub-group with an update in relation to the identification of potential remote sites as of 21 st February 05.
    2. The sites/offers are noted and set out both in Sheriffdoms and PF areas. A number of the sites have been visited and in some cases estimates have been submitted for building and refurbishment to meet the agreed standards. Most sites (except SCS, Falkirk and SCRA, Dundee) need to be assessed for soundproofing and lighting specification. All sites need to be assessed for ISDN and IT installation or compatibility.
    3. Member may wish to note that, at the last subordinate legislation sub-group, the Lord President's Private Office noted judges' concerns about using sites provided by specialist children's organisations. Members' views are welcomed as to how we should proceed in respect of these concerns and the accommodation already offered by Children 1 st. In the meantime, the Unit has refused the children 1 st request for funding of a part-time admin. post to service their remote sites.
    4. Bearing in mind the earlier discussion on SCS assuming responsibility for the identification, upgrading and management of remote sites, the VWU will pass to SCS all written proposals, plans and estimates received, as complementary to this report. The VWU Filed Officer will be available to work with the SCS project manager in the first instance.
    5. In light of the development mentioned at 4 above, it would also be helpful to consider members' views as to how best to continue with the task of identifying potential remote sites.

    SEJD
    Victims and Witnesses Unit

    February 2005

    ANNEX A
    IDENTIFICATION OF REMOTE SITES

    1. This is the third report to the sub-group and is intended as an update on the identification of remote sites for taking evidence by live TV link or on commission. The report provides detail of new offers and also more detail regarding the existing offers previously noted.
    2. Current status of site availability:

    Table

    Sheriffdom

    PF Area

    Site

    Details

    North Strathclyde

    Argyll and Bute

    nil

    Glasgow and Strathkelvin

    Glasgow

    • Glasgow Children 1 st, Sussex House, Kinning Park

    Sandra Mc Fadyen Service Manager

    0141 418 5690

    Sandra.McFadyen@children1st.org.uk

    • Family Centre
    • Standards: The accommodation is already child-friendly and meets most of the required standards. - problem with disabled access to a ground floor room only which would not be best suited to CCTV link
    • Building work: none noted
    • IT: needs installation
    • Other costs: see Children 1 st Proposal
    • Rental to be negotiated
    • £2,500 - £3,000 for additional furnishings
    • £2,000 per annum for provisions, office costs etc.

    South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway

    Ayr, Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway

    •HamiltonSE leased property, ……………

    • First floor of a new office block, leased by SE to house mental health tribunals.
    • Standards: Sight of building plans and layout suggests that the accommodation will meet all standards with some additional child-friendly furnishings.
    • Building work: none
    • IT: installed
    • Other costs: small amount of child friendly soft furnishings

    Lothian and Borders

    Lothian and Borders

    • LinlithgowWS site,

    Rowena Ritchie

    Witness Service
    Edinburgh Sheriff Court
    27 Chambers Street
    EDINBURGH
    EH1 1LB

    0131 220 1550

    witnessservice@wsedinburgh-sc.demon.co.uk

    frussell@victimsupportsco.demon.co.uk

    • WS office
    • Standards: Meets most - problem with lack of direct disabled access - need to go through tourist centre - the building does not lend itself to alteration
    • Building work: some re-decoration only
    • IT: required
    • Other costs:
      • Rental to be negotiated
      • Free-standing room divider to form a waiting area-estimate awaited
      • Vending machine for refreshments
      • Additional furnishings, curtains or window screen, 3 chairs, toys - estimate of £600

    Tayside, Central and Fife

    Tayside

    • DundeeSCRA new building in

    Rachel Burn, Authority Reporter, Floor 3 91 Commercial Street, Dundee, DD1 2AF

    • 01382 435 450

    Rachel.burn@scra.gsx.gov.uk

    • 2 hearing rooms plus waiting rooms plus play areas-to share with hearing court procedures - plans available
    • Standards: meets all but on rare occasions availability may be restricted due to booking of hearing court proceedings
    • Building work: all work, including lighting and soundproofing, being managed by SCRA estates - no costs
    • IT: SCRA installing ISDN with flexible line availability - request to equip both hearing rooms to enable a remote link between the two for civil hearings and commissions.
    • Other costs:
      • may need window dressing for first floor
      • vending machine

    • ArbroathSCRA office in

    Contact as above

    • Hearing room or a smaller 'waiting room'
    • Standards: meets all
    • Building work: none
    • IT: required - equipment would also need to be secured in a cabinet
    • Other costs:
      • additional reception staff hours when room was in use - no estimate
      • vending machine

    Central

    • FalkirkSCS site Public Guardian's Office

    • Existing first aid room for remote CCTV link plus use of existing conference room for commissions.
    • Standards: meets all but is not served by public transport
    • Building work: none
    • IT: required in first aid room only-already presenting conference room
    • Other costs:
      • Free-standing room dividers needed to reduce size of CCTV area.
      • 2 chairs
      • vending machine
      • soft furnishings and toys - approx £400 (or £100 if we don't include a video player and games console)

    Grampian, Highland and Islands

    Highlands and Islands

    • Black Isle, Inverness Children 1 st site at Killen Family Resource Centre,

    • 01381 620 757

    • Les.Hood@children1st.org.uk
    • Semi-detached old school house - part of Family Centre
    • Standards: potential to meet all standards, but remote from town centre with no adequate public transport
    • Building work: to be adapted for disabled access- £5631.00
    • IT: needs installation
    • Other costs:
    • needs redecoration and furnishings- £2,500 - £3,000

    • £2,000 per annum for provisions, office costs etc.
    • Rental to be negotiated

    • InvernessSCRA new building in

    • Accommodation in a new building to be available for April 2005. Initial discussions suggest that this may meet standards.
    • Visit due on 28 th February

    • SWD site in Shetlands -

    • no details

    Grampian

    • Aberdeen Children 1 st site, Corrieneuch

    • 01224 251150

    • Jackie.Kerr@children1st.org.uk
    • Family Centre
    • Standards: potential to meet all standards
    • Building work: minimal to improve interview room and waiting area - estimated costs = £15,810.00 + VAT(includes soundproofing)
    • IT: needs installation
    • Other costs:
    • See Children 1 st proposal
    • AberdeenVSS new building in
    • 0131 662 5404

    frussell@victimsupportsco.demon.co.uk

    • VSS office with spare capacity for remote site plus potential vulnerable witness officer pilot
    • Standards: potential to meet all standards
    • Building work: likely to be some modifications for disabled toilet access - awaiting estimates
    • IT: required
    • Other costs: proposed share of annual rental - £9,600 or alternatively to provide estimate for room rental and retainer fee.
    • AberdeenSCRA new building
    • No details - not available until April 2006
    1. Additional details:
    • Falkirk: This SCS site offers flexible use of 3 rooms on the first floor of a large office building on the outskirts of Falkirk.
      • One room of approx 30sqm can be divided by screens to provide an area for taking evidence and an area for relaxation. A separate waiting area could be developed in the large hallway.
      • A second large conference room is available with video conferencing equipment already installed. This can also be divided to provide a separate waiting area. The staff rest room is on the same floor and could be divided for use if required.
      • The accommodation would require some re-decoration and furnishing to achieve a child-friendly style, but otherwise it meets the current draft standards. The building is welcoming and has good disability access and facilities.
      • The only negatives are: i) the appearance of the office building itself is not 'child-friendly'; ii) the site is not served by public transport and is not within walking distance from the town centre.
    • Aberdeen:
      • There are two offers available and one further offer to be available from April 2006. The sub-group may consider that, as Aberdeen will house a permanent High Court, it may be worthwhile proceeding with more than one site. The estimates for alterations to children 1 st sites may be considered excessive.
    • Glasgow:
      • We will undoubtedly need at least one Glasgow site and as yet the Children 1 st site is the only offered.

    • Edinburgh:
      • An offer has been made by Education Services with a view to accessing accommodation in primary schools. This may provide considerable flexibility and a constructive way forward. The CPC has agreed to set up a small working group to consider.
    1. There has been preliminary discussion with John Hood, Executive Estates Services regarding rural agricultural accommodation in Perth, Oban and Stranraer. We also identified possible space in the Pensions Agency building in Galashiels. These offices have not been contacted as to their views and further contact should be made with John Hood, 0131 244 4285 and/or Wray Bodys, 01506 602 717, before pursuing these proposals further.
    2. It is also noted that, whilst the spirit of the Act undoubtedly intends the remote sites to be other than any court building, the Act does not exclude the possibility of using CCTV facilities in a court building other than that where the trial is taking place and this may be used as a contingency arrangement in some areas.
    3. The agreement as to the management of remote sites, legal agreements, upgrading and installation of technical equipment, will influence decisions made at this stage and the progress on continued identification of potential sites.

    Victim and Witnesses Unit

    21 February 2005

      Page updated: Wednesday, July 27, 2005