Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 debate

At today’s debate on Stage 3 of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, we’re asking members of the Criminal Justice Committee to consider the rights of victims who are harmed by 16 and 17-year-olds.

Victim Support Scotland, alongside our victim support organisation partners, ASSIST and Scottish Women’s Aid, have campaigned to ensure victims’ rights are not eroded.

Significant progress has been made around information which can be shared with victims, and we are highly supportive of the government’s commitment to establishing a Single Point of Contact service, alongside amendments regarding information sharing.

However, VSS remains concerned that while some parts will maintain victims’ rights, other parts will actively remove rights that victims are currently entitled to.

Specifically, the Bill will erode the rights of victims who are harmed by 16- and 17-year-olds, as they will no longer have rights under Scotland’s Victims’ Code if their case is disposed to the Children’s Hearing System.

Independent legal advice backs up the view that in its current form this Bill will create a two-tiered system for victims, which could have a disproportionately negative impact on victims who are often children themselves.

Read our briefing to MSPs: