The Scottish Government is committed to modernising the justice system to fully support victims and witnesses:
- We want to put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system
- We want to increase support and improve standards of treatment for vulnerable witnesses to help them participate in criminal, civil and children's hearing legal proceedings and give their best evidence. These are vital voices in the justice system.
- Some of our most vulnerable witnesses are children, and we will work to ensure that they are supported and protected at all stages of the legal process.
Examples of work to achieve this include:
- Publishing a Scottish Strategy for Victims and a Progress Report
- Funding a witness service in the Sheriff and High Courts
- Implementing the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004
- Co-ordinating the implementation of the recommendations of the Lord Advocate's Working Group on Child Witness Support through the Child Witness Support Implementation Group
- Introducing the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 which includes provisions which will be of benefit to victims, witnesses and vulnerable witnesses
- Piloting a victim statement scheme