The Scottish Government

VWTC/01/05 - VULNERABLE WITNESSES ACT IMPLEMENTATION STEERING GROUP

TRAINING AND COMMUNICATIONS SUB-GROUP

ENABLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP - WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

1. Patricia Kearns, Project Leader of the ENABLE Criminal Justice Working Group "What Happens Next" project wrote to the Minister for Justice in December 2004 seeking Scottish Executive funding assistance for the production of an inter-active DVD that will describe the criminal justice process in a way that people will readily understand.

2. The Victims and Witnesses Unit responded to the effect that it would be interested in hearing more about this project as it would tie in well with the Unit's work on the Vulnerable Witnesses Act and on victim support (copies of the correspondence are attached).

3. Constable David Pullen of Strathclyde Police and a member of the project steering group is here today to talk us through the proposal.

4. Issues for the sub-group to consider are whether the DVD could be produced for use nationally; the proposed audience; whether the DVD could be tailored to suit the needs of the Vulnerable Witnesses Act; whether it might include a "virtual" court tour; timescales for production; who would manage the project; badging; and cost. Members' views are invited.

5. This item is to be considered alongside item 5 on the agenda.

SEJD

Victims and Witnesses Unit

February 2005

ANNEX A - Available on request from the Victims and Witnesses Unit

ANNEX B

Dear Ms Kearns

CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP - "WHAT HAPPENS NEXT"

Thank you for your letter of 22 December 2004 to the Minister for Justice in which you seek Scottish Executive funding for the production of a DVD aimed at helping people with learning disabilities better understand how criminal justice proceedings work.

I have been asked to reply in my capacity as head of the Branch within the Victims and Witnesses Unit charged with implementing the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004.

The Act is aimed at making it easier for vulnerable people including accused persons to give their best evidence and we hope to implement it in respect of child witnesses in High Court and Sheriff Court Solemn proceedings and Children's Hearings court procedures from April this year and for adult vulnerable witnesses in High Court and Sheriff Court Solemn cases from April 2006 ( more information about the Act can be found on the Victims and Witnesses web site at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/criminal/18244/12279).

As part of the work of implementing the Act we are currently considering how to explain to potential vulnerable witnesses what the provisions of the act will mean for them via leaflets DVDs etc. and while your proposal would go a bit wider than the Act it would nevertheless seem to sit well with what we are doing. We would therefore welcome the opportunity to explore the proposal with you.

There is a Training and communications group which exists to assist the Executive take forward training, and the production of guidance and promotional material in respect of the Act on which Enable is represented by Mike Holmes, Director of Campaigns and Marketing and I would like to invite you to its next meeting which is scheduled to take place on Friday 11 February at 10:00a.m in St Andrew's house Edinburgh.

To facilitate discussion on your proposal it would be helpful if you could provide me with a more detailed specification for the project together with an estimate of costs.

I look forward to receiving your confirmation that you will be able to attend. In the meantime I am copying this letter to Mike Holmes for his information.

Yours sincerely

W J MOORE