Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 13 June 2012
13 Jun 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Victims and Witnesses (Improving Services)
Hanzala Malik has made an excellent point and I am sure that the Government will be acutely aware of the need for appropriate support to be given to victims whose first language is not English and who may not be fluent in English, so that they can be helped throughout the process.
Peter Morris petitioned Parliament on the suggestion of having case companions. I believe that the suggestion has merit, but unfortunately it was not received favourably by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. I worry that that response may be driven to some extent by the attitude to which the cabinet secretary alluded in his opening remarks: people sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that because things have been done in a particular way for so long, that is how they should be done, so they perhaps become averse to change. However, I believe that the case companion idea merits consideration.
The article in The Guardian that I referred to earlier said:
“The IPPR also said criminal justice agencies should automatically refer victims to online support networks, or agencies such as Victim Support should set up forums.”
I believe that to ensure that victims and witnesses make a successful transition to support, there needs to be better signposting. Organisations need to work more closely—hand-in-hand—if the idea of having a single point of contact is not taken forward. We must ensure that victims and witnesses have appropriate signposting and that organisations do not necessarily think that their role in the process is finished.
Peter Morris petitioned Parliament on the suggestion of having case companions. I believe that the suggestion has merit, but unfortunately it was not received favourably by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. I worry that that response may be driven to some extent by the attitude to which the cabinet secretary alluded in his opening remarks: people sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that because things have been done in a particular way for so long, that is how they should be done, so they perhaps become averse to change. However, I believe that the case companion idea merits consideration.
The article in The Guardian that I referred to earlier said:
“The IPPR also said criminal justice agencies should automatically refer victims to online support networks, or agencies such as Victim Support should set up forums.”
I believe that to ensure that victims and witnesses make a successful transition to support, there needs to be better signposting. Organisations need to work more closely—hand-in-hand—if the idea of having a single point of contact is not taken forward. We must ensure that victims and witnesses have appropriate signposting and that organisations do not necessarily think that their role in the process is finished.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-03278, in the name of Kenny MacAskill, on improving services for victims and witnesses.14:34
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to open the debate on making justice work for victims and witnesses. Under the Scottish Government’s making justice work pr...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Has the cabinet secretary estimated what revenue the proposed victim surcharge would bring in in the next few years?
Kenny MacAskill
SNP
We are looking at those matters. The answer is that that will depend. I am happy to share whatever information we have to date, but the measures that I am ta...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
Can the cabinet secretary give an assurance that the category of victims of sexual offences and domestic abuse will include victims of stalking?
Kenny MacAskill
SNP
I am assuming that that will be the case, but I will confirm that for the member. Given the nature of that offence, I would be surprised if that was not the ...
Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Scotland’s devolved Parliament has had a strong focus on support for victims and witnesses since its beginnings 13 years ago. The Labour-led devolved Governm...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Can whoever has their phone on please switch it off?
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Presiding Officer, I apologise to the member. I thought that I had switched it off, but I am obviously incompetent with this thing.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Ms Grahame.
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
Christine Grahame’s apology is, of course, acknowledged and accepted. I thank her for that helpful intervention, which I am sure will not cost me too much sp...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Annabel Goldie has seven minutes.14:59
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer. My normal challenge when speaking is to ensure that audiences remain awake. I fear that, if I speak more slowly, the situation ...
David Stewart
Lab
Does Annabel Goldie agree that it is inconsistent that prisoners have their own commissioner but victims do not?
Annabel Goldie
Con
That certainly seems to be illogical. The proposal could—with tweaking—go a long way towards addressing the needs of victims. The situation might then be ade...
Christine Grahame
SNP
It is commendable that Annabel Goldie has agreed that the cabinet secretary has taken steps in that direction, but does she agree that we need more prisoner ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Ms Goldie, I will compensate you for the intervention.
Annabel Goldie
Con
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer.In response to Christine Grahame’s intervention, the building programme is, I presume, precisely what her party took i...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Annabel Goldie
Con
I am sorry, but I am pushed for time and I have already taken an intervention.Automatic early release of prisoners is a discredited anachronism that perplexe...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We now move to the open debate. We have a fair amount of time in hand; the six minutes for speeches will be a generous six minutes, and members will be compe...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
On Annabel Goldie’s comment, my understanding of “Strike it Lucky” is that participants had to avoid hitting hot spots.The Scottish Government, in introducin...
Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Mark McDonald
SNP
I will finish my point, first.One of the difficulties is that gaps emerge and individuals often fall into them. One of the key things that we need to do is f...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
Humza Yousaf.
Hanzala Malik
Lab
No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I am sorry. It is Hanzala Malik. I beg your pardon.
Hanzala Malik
Lab
Thank you very much. I am not sure that Humza would appreciate that, but I certainly do. Laughter.I compliment Mark McDonald for what he said about victim su...
Mark McDonald
SNP
Hanzala Malik has made an excellent point and I am sure that the Government will be acutely aware of the need for appropriate support to be given to victims ...
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?