VSS’ volunteers & hate crime work recognised
Victim Supported Scotland’s volunteers have been recognised in the Scottish Parliament by Mark Griffin MSP, who tabled a motion supporting the work of volunteers and staff at VSS.
Mr Griffin acknowledged the organisation’s continued commitment to victims and witnesses of crime.
Mr Griffin also encouraged Parliament Members, stakeholders and interested parties to respond to the current hate crime public consultation, as part of Lord Bracadale’s hate crime legislation review, by the 23 November 2017 deadline.
VSS Parliamentary, Policy and Research Officer, Kevin Kane, commented:
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of VSS and so we are extremely appreciative that Mark Griffin MSP has drawn attention to their fantastic efforts.
“We are encouraged by the enthusiasm shown for our recent efforts on hate crime, including our report, conference, and new training course, and hope as many people as possible contribute to the hate crime consultation by the closing date of 23 November 2017.”
The full motion can be seen here:
“That the Parliament supports the excellent work of volunteers and staff at Victim Support Scotland; acknowledges the organisation’s continued commitment to victims and witnesses of crime; commends the charity on its dedication to hate crime training and notes its new training course on the matter; congratulates the organisation on its recent hate crime conference and report, which seeks to place victims at the heart of any legislative response to hate crime; understands that there is work to be done to increase reporting of hate crime, and encourages Members, stakeholders and interested parties to respond to the consultation on hate crime by the closing date of 23 November 2017.”
So far, the motion has been supported by the following MSPs: Richard Lyle, Anas Sarwar, John Mason, Daniel Johnson, Stewart Stevenson, Gail Ross, Johann Lamont, Iain Gray, Lewis Macdonald, Neil Findlay, Colin Smyth, Alex Neil, Jackson Carlaw, Richard Lochhead, and Kezia Dugdale.
Motions are used by MSPs as a device to initiate debate or propose a course of action. They can be lodged for debate in Parliament as part of parliamentary business, for debate as part of Members’ Business, to propose that legislation is agreed to or passed, or simply to generate support.
