Hansard

Before I begin, I remind colleagues of my entry in the register of members’ interests. I worked for a rape crisis centre when I was elected in 2021.

Today we reach the final stage of the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill, which is both technical and deeply human. At its heart lies the question of how we can make our justice system not only faster and more efficient but more compassionate, equitable and restorative—a more humane system that upholds fairness, care and compassion for everyone it touches.

The bill offers us a step in that direction. It speaks to a modern Scotland that recognises that justice must evolve to meet people where they are in the 21st century and in the realities of their lives. I am pleased that, through its reforms to criminal procedure and the creation of domestic homicide and suicide reviews, the bill represents progress towards a system that listens, learns and acts with integrity.

As we have heard, part 1 of the bill contains reforms that make permanent many of the emergency measures that were introduced during the pandemic, including digital submissions, virtual attendance and electronic documentation. Those might sound procedural but, as Victim Support Scotland has reminded us, they have made a real difference for victims and witnesses by reducing delays, cutting travel time and cost, and improving the smooth running of proceedings.

The ability to give evidence virtually can spare victims the trauma of being in the same courtroom as the accused. It can make participation possible for those who would otherwise struggle to attend in person. We must ensure that the reforms are delivered in a way that enhances accessibility and choice. Modernisation must never become a barrier to justice—it must open doors, not close them. That is why I welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the impact of virtual attendance and to working with organisations such as Victim Support Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid to ensure that trauma-informed practice is embedded in every part of the justice process. I also welcome Liam Kerr’s work in that area.

Victim Support Scotland has also made it clear that victims and witnesses now expect flexibility and that taking it away would be a backward step. It has also reminded us that victims must be kept informed of developments, including any changes to charges or indictments. In this case, communication is not a courtesy but a right.

Part 2 of the bill, which creates a statutory model for domestic homicide and suicide reviews, is long overdue. Scottish Women’s Aid and others have campaigned for it for almost a decade. They have called for a framework that allows us to learn, with honesty and care, from the most devastating cases of domestic abuse and coercive control. The reviews will not undo tragedy, but they will help to prevent repetition. They will shine a light on where systems fail in housing, policing, health and in the co-ordination between those and other services.

Scottish Women’s Aid and Victim Support Scotland have stressed that the reviews must be independent, properly resourced and inclusive. The voluntary and specialist sectors—those that are closest to survivors and families—must have a guaranteed seat at the table. I welcome the Scottish Government’s assurances that that will be reflected in statutory guidance.

For me, justice must be feminist, restorative and rooted in compassion. It must not only punish harm but work to prevent it and to build systems that protect, heal and repair. As we have heard this afternoon, the bill does not do everything, but it moves us forward in the right direction. It offers a foundation on which to build a justice system that is responsive to people’s lives and experiences. Let us pass the bill this evening, not as the end of a process but as the beginning of lasting change.