This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Advice service for victims of crime in Airdrie
20/06/2003
Support for victims of crime has been bolstered today
with the opening of the Airdrie Victim Information and
Advice (VIA) office by the Solicitor General, Elish
Angiolini QC.
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
Airdrie is part of a Scotland-wide initiative that is
considered the most significant practical development in
assisting victims of crime for over 20 years.
Elish Angiolini said:
"The criminal justice system is complex and dealing with
it can be difficult and distressing for victims, bereaved
relatives and vulnerable witnesses. VIA will help, by
guiding them through the system, offering information and
advice to those who need it most.
"Staff at VIA Airdrie can explain the process and
provide 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
Airdrie are already working closely with local criminal
justice agencies to offer a high-quality service that takes
account of the needs of each individual.
"VIA's introduction is part of a wider programme
of modernisation and reform of the Crown Office and
Procurator Fiscal Service. One of the main objectives of
this reform is a prosecution service that is responsive to
the public's needs and communicates openly and effectively.
I believe the service provided by VIA demonstrates we are
well on the road to achieving that aim."
Procurators Fiscal in Airdrie will refer appropriate
victims of serious crimes, bereaved relatives and
vulnerable witnesses to the local VIA team for cases from
07 May 2003.
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,
Kilmarnock and Paisley.
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.