« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
VITAL VOICES: Helping Vulnerable Witnesses Give Evidence
Report on the Analysis of Responses to the Consultation
SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION
Introduction and purpose of the consultation
1. The Scottish Executive has recently completed a consultation process to inform a review of the current law and practice relating to vulnerable witnesses. The consultation forms part of a much wider programme of work to help improve the position of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system.
2. The purpose of the consultation, as outlined in the Scottish Executive's consultation document, was to look at current arrangements relating to vulnerable witnesses, 1 to consider whether these arrangements need to be extended and whether there are alternative ways in which witnesses who may have particular needs can be assisted in providing 'best evidence'.
3. The purpose of this report is to present the findings of the analysis of responses to the consultation exercise.
4. In total, almost 700 copies of the consultation document were distributed to individuals, members of the judiciary and organisations throughout Scotland. 2 In addition, the document was placed on the Scottish Executive's website. The closing date for receipt of responses to the consultation was 31 July 2002. A total of 76 responses were received. Table 1.1 (below) contains information on the number of responses received, by category of interest group. A full list of Consultees is contained in Annex B.
Table 1.1: Responses to the Consultation by Interest Group Category
Category | Number of responses received |
Member of the Public | 1 |
Voluntary Organisation | 19 |
Local Authority / Social Work | 23 |
Public / Statutory Body | 10 |
Professional Association | 14 |
Academic | 3 |
Sheriffs / Judges | 1 |
Other Legal | 5 |
TOTAL | 76 |
5. It should be noted from the outset that, as the overall number of submissions received was low (76 in total), and not all Consultees addressed each question, the percentages cited throughout the report will, in the main, refer to very low numbers. Therefore, caution should be exercised when quoting percentages cited within the report.
Structure of the Report
6. The purpose of this report is to present the findings of the analysis of responses to the consultation exercise. The results of the analysis are contained in eight sections. Section Two contains Consultees' views on the requirement for corroboration of evidence in criminal cases (Question 1), while Section Three contains an overview of Consultees' opinions on how vulnerability should be defined (Questions 2-10). The issue of special measures - both current and new - is examined in Sections Four and Five (Questions 11-20) and Section Six looks at the range of proceedings in which these measures should be available (Questions 21-24). Section Seven is concerned with Consultees' views on whether the competence test should be modified, abolished or retained (Question 25) while the final section, Section Eight, addresses 'related issues' (Questions 26-27).
7. The Annex contain a list of individuals and organisations to which the consultation document was distributed ( Annex A), in addition to a list of those from whom responses were received ( Annex B).
« Previous | Contents | Next »