David Sinclair: It's time to give Scots victims of crime a voice

Published on Thursday 5 March 2009 08:41

FROM next month, victims of serious crime in Scotland will have the chance to give a statement to the court about the emotional, physical or financial effect crime has had on them.

Victim Support Scotland has been involved at every stage of the development of this proposal and will be instrumental through its staff and volunteers in delivery of the Victim Impact statements and we welcome the formal announcement.

Everyone will recognise how important it is that all relevant views are taken into account prior to sentencing and that the family and relatives of victims of crime should have the opportunity to explain how a criminal offence has impacted on them.

The courts in England and Wales already have such statement opportunities and there is a general recognition that the system is an additional improvement to the criminal justice system there. So it should be in Scotland.

There have been many instances where the family or relatives of victims of crime have sat in courts and faced a situation where they have heard evidence with which they believed was untrue or with which they disagreed. Now they have an opportunity in such situations to refute such evidence.

Additionally, it might assist in helping to understand the tariffs which the courts have to take into account in reaching a sentencing decision. In the past, the families of victims have often been unable to express their feelings and the impact on them of the offence. Now they can, if they wish, ensure that their view and the effects on them is known in advance of sentencing, although it is important to stress that it is not the intention of such statements to influence sentencing.

As a charity which exists to provide free and confidential help to all victims and witnesses of crime, we await with interest the Government's proposed Criminal Justice & Licensing Bill, scheduled to be published soon.

David Sinclair is head of communications for Victim Support Scotland.