Victim Support Scotland has released a statement in response to the Homicide in Scotland figures released by the Scottish Government.

Full statement:

Kate Wallace, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, said:

“We are saddened to hear that the number of homicides recorded by Police Scotland increased by 10% in the last year, even with the overall decrease in this type of crime over the last decade.

“We urge people to remember that behind every one of these statistics there is a life lost and a family that has had their lives irrevocably changed. As a nation, our focus needs to be on the human impact of homicide and the compassionate and trauma-informed support available to help people cope in the wake of such a devastating incident. Homicide can be a hugely isolating experience for families, in terms of support networks, the impact on family and friends as well as working life. Families are thrust into facing the trauma and complexities of the criminal justice system, anticipating the trial, and facing a future without their loved one.

“After a murder takes place, families can experience the additional stress of media attention, especially when a child has been killed. VSS continues to advocate on behalf of families to ensure anonymity for children who die as a result of crime, and we keenly await the findings of a Scottish Government consultation on Media Reporting on Child Homicide which is considering appropriate solutions. VSS has highlighted in particular the impact of this on surviving siblings. Scotland can and must do better to protect them.

“We welcome proposals in the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill to help reduce the number of domestic homicides and suicides in Scotland.

“These figures also serve as a reminder of the vital role that our Support for Families Bereaved by Crime (SFBC) service plays in supporting families who have lost a loved one to homicide. As a one-of-its-kind service for families in Scotland, the SFBC team provides specialist support to families to help them navigate the criminal justice system in the days, weeks, months and years after the crime has occurred.”