This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Support for victims in Highlands
10/10/2003
Support for victims of
crime has been bolstered today with the opening of the
Inverness Victim Information and Advice (VIA) office.
VIA, part of the Crown Office and
Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), will provide a dedicated
service offering information and advice to victims of
crime, bereaved next-of-kin and vulnerable witnesses.
Opening the office, Robert Gordon, the
Chief Executive of the COPFS, said:
"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 the VIA
offices demonstrates we are well on the road to achieving
that aim."
The introduction of the service in
Inverness is part of a Scotland-wide initiative that aims
to be the most significant practical development in
assisting victims of crime for over 20 years.
Area Procurator Fiscal for the
Highland and Islands, Graeme Napier said:
"We recognise that the criminal
justice system is complex and dealing with it can be
distressing for victims, bereaved relatives and vulnerable
witnesses and we have been working with existing support
services, including Victim Support and the Court Witness
Service. VIA fills a major gap in the provision of
assistance to victims by guiding them through the
prosecution system and offering information and advice to
those who need it most.
"Staff at VIA Inverness will be able
to provide updates on the progress of specific cases and
explain the overall process. The information and advice
staff offer will recognise the diversity and different
needs of the people with whom we deal. VIA Inverness are
already working closely with local criminal justice
agencies to offer a high-quality service that takes account
of the needs of each individual."
Procurators Fiscal in Inverness
will refer appropriate victims of serious crimes, bereaved
relatives and vulnerable witnesses to the local VIA team
for cases from 03 November 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 includes asylum
seekers and intimidated witnesses and may include
victims and witnesses from the lesbian, gay or
bi-sexual communities
Offices are currently operational in
Aberdeen (known as the Grampian office, covering Peterhead,
Stonehaven, Elgin and Banff); Airdrie; Dumfries; Dundee;
Edinburgh; Glasgow; Hamilton; Kilmarnock; Kirkcaldy;
Paisley. A further office will open in Stirling in November
2003.
Modernisation and reform
changes since March 2002:
Introduced 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