This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Victim Information and Advice - Paisley
24/03/2003
A new Victim Information and Advice (VIA) office was
opened in Paisley today.
VIA, part of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal
Service, provides a dedicated service offering information
and advice to victims of crime, bereaved next-of-kin and
vulnerable witnesses.
The introduction of the service in Paisley is part of a
Scotland-wide initiative that is considered the most
significant practical development in assisting victims of
crime for over 20 years.
Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC said:
"The path through the criminal justice system can be
difficult and distressing for victims, bereaved relatives
and vulnerable witnesses. VIA will guide them along that
path showing the way through the system by offering
information and advice to those who need it most.
"The staff of the VIA Paisley office will be able to
explain the process as well as providing updates on the
progress of specific cases. The information and advice
offered recognises the diversity and different needs of the
people with whom we deal. VIA Paisley are already working
closely with local criminal justice agencies to offer a
high-quality service that takes account of the needs of
each individual.
"The development of VIA is part of the
modernisation and reform of the Crown Office and Procurator
Fiscal Service which I started just over a year ago. One of
the principal objectives of the reform is a prosecution
service that is responsive to the public's needs and
communicates openly and effectively. I believe the service
being provided by VIA demonstrates we are well on the road
to achieving that aim."
The principal aims of VIA are:
- to inform and advise victims, bereaved next of kin
and some witnesses about the criminal justice process
in general
- to provide information about the progress of the
case that affects them in particular
- to inform and advise victims and bereaved next of
kin about support services
- to facilitate referral to other agencies for
specialist support and counselling as required.
The VIA service is provided to individual victims or to
groups of individual victims but not usually to
organisations or legal persons. For example, cases
involving fraud against a large organisation will not be
referred but fraud perpetrated against an individual victim
(for instance, bogus workman cases) or against a small
business may be.
The main categories are:
- victims in all serious cases, where the nature of
the charge(s) will be indicative of proceedings before
a jury
- the next of kin in cases involving deaths where
criminal proceedings are possible and death cases where
a Fatal Accident Inquiry is to be held
- the next of kin in all cases where there were
likely to be or it becomes clear after initial
investigation that there will be significant further
inquiries, or where, in all the circumstances, it is
considered that the assistance of VIA would be
appropriate.
- victims in cases of domestic abuse
- victims in cases with a racial aggravation and
cases where it is known to the Procurator Fiscal that
the victim perceives the offence to be racially
motivated.
- cases involving child witnesses
- victims in cases involving sexual offences
- any other victim, next of kin or witness VIA
considers that because of particular vulnerability the
provision of services would be beneficial. This
category also includes asylum seekers.
Offices are currently operational in Aberdeen (known as
the Grampian office covering Banff, Elgin, Peterhead and
Stonehaven), Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamilton and
Kilmarnock.
- Modernisation and reform changes since March
2002:
- Recruited over 100 additional front line staff,
including over 40 legal staff and 21 legal trainees, in
past year. About to recruit more lawyers.
- Introducing modern IT system, to improve case
management, and ease burden of paperwork for legal
staff
- Moved to area structure, matching that of Police
Forces, to improve communication and close working with
police
- Appointed senior administrators to support area
Procurators Fiscal, freeing up more time for legal
work
- Appointment of Chief Executive and experienced
management team, to free up senior legal staff from
'central' responsibilities such as personnel
- Roll-out of Victim Information and Advice service,
improving the level of information and support we offer
victims
- Created two new units - Civil Recovery and Criminal
Confiscation, to ensure we reap the benefits of new
powers contained within the new Proceeds of Crime
Act
- Have worked with staff at all levels, improving
communication and levels of support offered to front
line staff, to ensure efficient prosecution of
crime
- Working towards establishing independent
inspectorate by the end of this year.