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Consultation on the use of intermediaries for vulnerable witnesses in Scotland
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Government
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 19p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This consultation paper sets out background information and seeks comments and views on the use of intermediaries as a special measure for vulnerable witnesses in Scotland. The paper sets out the Scottish context for the consideration of the use of intermediaries including the policy background to the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004, the current policies and practices of the Scottish justice system in addressing the communication needs of vulnerable witnesses, and options for the future, and their possible implications, advantages and disadvantages.
Turning up the volume: The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004
- Authors:
- RICHARDS Patsy, MORRIS Sue, RICHARDS Eddie
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 196p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (the VWA) introduced a range of special measures intended to help child and adult vulnerable witnesses give their best evidence in court. The Act came into force in April 2005 and was implemented in phases. This research examined a 3 year study period from 2004 to 2007, which included the first two phases of rollout, plus a baseline year before implementation. The research specification was to establish baselines for both child and adult witnesses, against which implementation could be assessed, assess the monitoring framework for vulnerable witnesses and propose adjustment where necessary, undertake formative evaluation, including the identification of factors which facilitate or impede effective implementation, and undertake outcome evaluation, including impact on vulnerable witnesses, and on court proceedings.
Turning up the volume: The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004
- Authors:
- RICHARDS Patsy, MORRIS Sue, RICHARDS Eddie
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 introduced a range of measures intended to help child and adult vulnerable witnesses give their best evidence in court. This research examined a 3 year period including the year preceding the Act, and its first two phases of implementation. Main findings are presented.
Adult vulnerable witnesses in sheriff court summary cases
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Government
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
The provisions of the Act for adult vulnerable witnesses in sheriff court summary cases will commence from April 2008 and applies to cases that were reported by the police to the Procurator Fiscal on or after 1 April 2008. The Act extends the definition of adult vulnerable witnesses and makes special measures available to help improve the quality of their evidence and formalises the procedure for requesting them.
Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004: information guide
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Government
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 16p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
The purpose of this booklet is to provide practitioners with a brief guide to the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 and information about its implementation. The Act aims to improve conditions for vulnerable witnesses by increasing the number of support measures available to help them participate more fully in criminal and any civil court proceedings. Some of the most vulnerable witnesses are children and the Act aims to ensure they are supported and protected during the court process.
Special measures for vulnerable adult and child witnesses: a guidance pack
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Executive
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Executive
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 149p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This guidance pack is designed to provide practitioners with information about the use of special measures for vulnerable adult and child witnesses. It also provides information about applying for special measures and some examples of circumstances where the use of each special measure may be most helpful. For the purposes of the guidance pack, ‘practitioners’ are understood to include Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff, other legal practitioners, children’s reporters, the police, court personnel, social workers, Victim Support Scotland volunteers and workers in other support organisations. 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. It is non-statutory and is not an authoritative statement of the law but aims to ensure a commitment to practice, which does not discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation or age. It is expected that application of the guidance should assist consistency in the use of special measures across Scotland. This 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.
Achieving best evidence in criminal proceedings: guidance on interviewing victims and witnesses, and using special measures
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Office for Criminal Justice Reform
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Office for Criminal Justice Reform
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 174, bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Government is committed to improving the protection during the criminal justice process for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, including children. This document is issued as part of ‘Action for Justice’, the implementation programme for the ‘Speaking Up for Justice’ report.
Turning up the volume: the vulnerable witness officer pilots
- Authors:
- MORRIS Sue, RICHARDS Patsy, RICHARDS Eddie
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
Pilot schemes were established in Aberdeen and Ayrshire by the Scottish Executive Vulnerable Witnesses Unit (SE VWU), to improve services to vulnerable witnesses in the Scottish justice system. MorrisRichards Ltd were commissioned to assist with self evaluation of the pilots, and also to undertake an independent evaluation. Main findings are presented.
Turning up the volume: the vulnerable witness officers pilots
- Authors:
- MORRIS Sue, RICHARDS Patsy, RICHARDS Eddie
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government Social Research
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 182p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This report sets out the evaluation findings from a study of the Scottish Executive Vulnerable Witnesses Unit pilot schemes in Aberdeen and Ayrshire. The pilot schemes aimed to improve services to vulnerable witnesses in the Scottish justice system. The aims of the pilot initiative were to explore and make recommendations on the provision of consistent, integrated and accountable services to support child and vulnerable witnesses throughout all legal proceedings, with effective and high quality standards of delivery, and how this could be achieved across Scotland.
Supporting vulnerable witnesses
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Rostrum Magazine, 85, July 2006, p.13.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers (Scotland)
This article summarises some of the key provisions of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004, which aims to provide additional support to vulnerable witnesses to enable them to give their evidence as best the can.