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Welcome to the 3rd edition of the Scottish Executive's Victims and Witnesses Unit newsletter.
This regular newsletter will help us share with you, and keep you informed of, what's going on in the unit and encourage your interest and participation to help us meet our goal of bringing victims and witnesses to the heart of the justice system.
Vulnerable Witnesses Guidance Pack - Special Measures for Vulnerable
Adult and Child Witnesses
A new guidance pack designed to provide practitioners with information about the use of special measures for vulnerable adult and child witnesses was published on 25 May 2005.
The guidance contained in the pack is relevant to both child witnesses and adult vulnerable witnesses, although there are specific references to child witnesses where provisions differ.
The guidance is non-statutory and is not an authoritative statement of the law but aims to ensure a commitment to practice.
It is expected that application of the guidance should assist consistency in the use of special measures across Scotland.
The guidance pack contains separate guidance on each of the special measures in addition to guidance on applying for special measures and on identifying the most appropriate special measures for child witnesses.
Further information on the guidance, as well as other work of the Victims and Witnesses Unit is on our website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/06/03104253/42547
For a copy of the guidance pack,
please contact Isobel Gifford by e-mail:
Isobel.Gifford@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
or telephone 0131 244 2213.
Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 - Implementation Phase 2
The Victims and Witnesses Unit is working with key partners - Vulnerable Witnesses Act Implementation Steering Group - to oversee the completion of residual work relating to the implementation of phase one and to develop and take forward the practical measures required to ensure the effective implementation of phase two of the Vulnerable Witnesses Act relating to adult vulnerable witnesses in High Court and Sheriff Court solemn cases and Children's Hearing court proceedings from 1 April 2006.
See our website for more information.
REPORT ON BAIL AND REMAND LOOKS TO RESTORE RESPECT
On 5 April 2005, the Sentencing Commission for Scotland published its report on the Use of Bail and Remand. The Commission is an independent, judicially-led body which was set up by the Scottish Executive under its policy statement "A Partnership for a Better Scotland".
The report contains 38 recommendations. One of the key recommendations include:
- strengthening protection for victims and witnesses by extending bail conditions prohibiting contact with named individuals at particular addresses to specified areas like a street or postcode area;
If you would like more information about the work of the Sentencing Commission, visit the Commission's website at:
www.scottishsentencingcommission.gov.uk
e-mail: sentencing.commission@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
or phone the Commission's Secretariat on: 0131 244 3228.
Scottish Strategy for Victims - Review Update
New ways of ensuring that victims get the support and information they need is being finalised as part of the review of the Scottish Strategy for Victims. Sub-groups of the Victim Steering Group which oversees the Strategy reported at the end of 2004. These looked at awareness raising and training, information for victims, improving service delivery and the support needs of families bereaved by murder and culpable homicide. Another group - on management information systems - reported in April. The recommendations from all these groups are being pulled together into a summary report outlining future action. We hope to publish the report in July/August 2005.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Please let us know what you think of our newsletter. Is there anything you would like to see included in a future issue? Would you like to submit an article that we could perhaps include?
Please contact us by e-mail vitalvoicesfeedback@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
or call 0131 244 3314
Being a Witness - Information for Child Witnesses and their Parents/Carers
Generic information booklets for child witnesses including a booklet for parents/carers are now available:
Criminal Proceedings
A booklet for children
A booklet for young people
Children's Hearing Court Proceedings
A booklet for children
A booklet for young people
A generic booklet for Parents/Carers covering both criminal and children's hearing court proceedings is also available.
These booklets aim to provide under 16 year olds and their parents/carers with information about being a witness including details of what special measures they may be entitled to and how they might operate.
The booklets will be available, on request, in 7 other languages (Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gaelic, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu).
If you would like copies of the booklets, please contact Isobel Gifford by e-mail Isobel.Gifford@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0131 244 2213 stating clearly which booklets you would like and how many.