31 August 2010

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has started an online petition calling on the Scottish Executive and the Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing MSP, to support his proposed Victims and Witnesses Commissioner (Scotland) Bill to safeguard and promote the rights of victims and witnesses
Mr Stewart said: "Being a victim of crime or criminal conduct can be extremely traumatic. Shock, fear, anger, annoyance and low self-esteem often affect victims and leave them vulnerable during the criminal process.

"My Members Bill would create a Victims’ Commissioner for Scotland which would put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system.

"It is ironic that convicted prisoners have their own Commissioner yet there is no champion for victims of crime. My Bill, if it receives cross-party support, would create a Victims Commissioner who can advocate, advance, and assert the rights of victims and witnesses to crime."

Mr Stewart’s petition can be accessed at :

http://davidstewartmsp.org.uk

There is also a link displayed on the petition page providing
more information about his bill at :

http://www.davidstewart.org.uk/commissioner

Mr Stewart’s Bill will go to Stage 1 at the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee in October.

It has received significant cross-party support to get to this stage.