Pledge on helping victims of crime

21 March 2011

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has pledged to introduce a Bill to help Scotland's victims of crime as soon as possible if he is re-elected.

Time has run out for the Commissioner for Witnesses and Crime (Scotland) Bill to be passed by this Parliament but the MSP said:

"If I am re-elected  I will reintroduce my Bill as soon as soon as I can.

"A lot of the consultation for the Bill has been carried out so its path through Parliament to becoming law should not take long.

"The main objective of my bill is to promote and safeguard the interests of victims and witnesses and project them to the heart of the criminal justice system.

"The objective is to have a champion who ensures that the needs of victims and witnesses are met."

He went on: "It is true that the situation of victims and witnesses in Scotland has greatly improved as a result of a range of initiatives such as the victims strategy, the use of victim statements and the victim notification scheme.

"I recognise that, but the point is that, although improvements have been made, a great deal more needs to be done.

"A number of important and effective voluntary organisations work in the interests of victims and witnesses, but there is no one co-ordinating voice, and no one has the statutory power to
examine failures.

"The gap is between victims and victims organisations, and the Government.

"The commissioner would be responsible for championing the rights of victims and raising awareness of their situation, and, of course, they would work with voluntary organisations, politicians, the police, the criminal justice system and civil servants to build a fairer and just system that puts victims' needs first.

"It is important that victims and witnesses are protected from uncaring bureaucracy that is often unintentionally hurtful and damaging at a time of great suffering.

"The convener, as a lawyer, will know well that witnesses suffer trauma, too.

"I have introduced the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill because it is essential that Scotland has an independent commissioner to champion the rights of victims and
witnesses.

"The role of the commissioner is not to run services; it is not to duplicate the work of the third sector; and it is not to be a competitor for funding."

Mr Stewart said that if he was re-elected, he would carefully reconsider the functions of the commissioner and the costs involved in setting up such an office.