Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 September 2025
17 Sep 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Absolutely—education for all of us about the legal system and our criminal justice system is imperative.
After we pass the bill today, our third sector partners will continue to hold us to account—and rightly so. Rape Crisis Scotland and Victim Support Scotland have stressed that survivors do not see the system as being in separate parts, but as one long process. We owe it to them and to the people they support to keep going until our justice system is worthy of the name.
For the Scottish Greens, this is about principle. Justice is not only about verdicts; it is about reducing harm, restoring dignity and preventing further violence. That is why we support the bill, and it is why we will continue to press for more restorative approaches where appropriate, for prevention and for survivor-centred practice in every corner of the system.
Let us pass the bill today, not as the end point but as the beginning of a transformation in how Scotland delivers justice. Survivors deserve nothing less.
16:08In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18883, in the name of Angela Constance, on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill at ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance)
SNP
The core of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill is about supporting victims. I begin by recognising everyone who has been impacted by ...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
The bill has had a tortuous passage. The cabinet secretary said that it has been a marathon, not a sprint, and that is certainly true. It was originally goin...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
This is the most difficult bill that I have dealt with in my time on the Criminal Justice Committee. It deals, in its entirety, with wholesale reform of the ...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I remind colleagues of my entry in the register of members’ interests: I used to work for a rape crisis centre. We are here today to debate legislation that...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (LD)
LD
I am often asked, when schools come to visit, “What is the best part of being an MSP? Is it helping constituents? Is it meeting inspiring people? Is it chang...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 15:54
Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
It is safe to say that the passage of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill has been long, complex and challenging—and rightly so, given...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests, which notes that my wife is a sergeant with Police Scotland. The cabinet secretary knows...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Christine Grahame, who is the final speaker in the open debate. 16:02
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate all who are engaged in the bill, but I also consider that to allocate just over one hour to debate these radical changes to the delivery and p...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to closing speeches. 16:04
Maggie Chapman
Green
Presiding Officer, “We are treated like outsiders throughout the whole process.” “I was told by a police detective that I wasn’t raped—it was consensual....
Christine Grahame
SNP
Thank you for taking an intervention; I know that your time is constricted. Is there a place in our education system—in schools—for education on the general ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Always speak through the chair.
Maggie Chapman
Green
Absolutely—education for all of us about the legal system and our criminal justice system is imperative. After we pass the bill today, our third sector part...
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to close the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour. We remain concerned that the bill might have unintended consequences and disappoint victims. ...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
The member’s party and the Conservative Party are not voting for the bill. Do you not think that, by not voting for it, you are letting down victims and witn...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Always speak through the chair.
Katy Clark
Lab
The whole of my speech addresses the point that Rona Mackay is making. There are many proposals in the bill that we agree with. Indeed, many of them do not ...
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I acknowledge that the bill contains some improvements, and I welcome the fact that the Government backed my amendments to toughen up non-harassment orders a...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance)
SNP
I do not want to pollute the debate with partisan comments because, at the end of the day, victims will judge for themselves whether they see through any con...
Liam Kerr
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Angela Constance
SNP
Not just now. The bill will introduce radical improvements to how sexual offences are dealt with through the creation of a new sexual offences court, which ...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
That concludes the debate on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage 3.