This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Victim Information and Advice now Scotland-wide
13/01/2005
Over 47,000 victims and vulnerable witnesses have been
assisted by the Victim Information and Advice Service (VIA)
which is part of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal
Service.
Since VIA was launched on June 14, 2002, VIA teams have
been set up throughout the country providing a service to
victims and witnesses.
The roll-out of the service throughout Scotland was
completed on December 30, 2004.
Now every Procurator Fiscal can refer victims of serious
crime, bereaved relatives and vulnerable witnesses to their
local VIA team in order to provide them with a 'way
through' the criminal justice process.
VIA staff, who are all specially trained and they
understand the concerns and needs of people affected by
crime. They can:
- provide information and advice about how the
criminal justice system works and what a victim/witness
should expect
- keep the victim/witness updated on the progress of
their case
- arrange a court visit, to allow the victim/witness
to familiarise themselves with the surroundings before
a trial
- put victims/witnesses in touch with other useful
services and organisations specific to individual needs
and requirements
Solicitor General for Scotland Elish Angiolini QC
said:
"I'm delighted that VIA has been accessible to so many
people throughout the last two years and that it is now
available to victims and witnesses who need its services
all over the country.
"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service made a
commitment to have the VIA service available across
Scotland by the end of 2004 and this goal has been
achieved.
"All our staff are aware of the needs of victims and aim
to treat victims, bereaved relatives and witnesses with
courtesy and compassion.
"Often, the criminal justice system can seem daunting,
and VIA provides vital information and explanatory advice
to victims and witnesses in these circumstances, helping
them better understand and feel more engaged with the
process."
VIA has three main functions:
- provide information to certain victims, witnesses
and bereaved next of kin about the criminal justice
process in general
- keep victims, witnesses and bereaved next of kin
informed about the progress of the case that affects
them in particular
- advise on and facilitate referral to other agencies
for specialist support and counselling as required
- VIA serves individual victims, or
groups of individual victims, in all cases of domestic
abuse, racist crime, sexual offences and cases likely
to be tried before a jury. The service is also
provided to all child witnesses or vulnerable witnesses
and to the next-of-kin where criminal proceedings are
possible, a Fatal Accident Inquiry is to be held, or
further enquiries are pending.
- VIA provides information on cases
reported to the Procurator Fiscal from the time of
first reporting to the conclusion of the case. This
information includes outcomes of key stages and key
decisions. For example decisions to grant/allow bail
with special conditions are communicated to the victim
within 24 hours.
- VIA works closely with other
statutory agencies (the police, Scottish Courts
Service) and also with voluntary organisations (such as
the Witness Service, Women's Aid, Victim
Support).