Your Views Needed – Media Reporting on Child Homicide Victims

VSS has led the public campaign on behalf of families bereaved by crime for reform of media reporting on child homicides since the beginning of 2024.

We are committed to enacting positive change for people affected by crime, and to achieving this through encouraging and supporting key partners, victim support agencies and people affected by crime to share their views.

On behalf of families whose child died as a result of crime, we are asking you to share your views with the Scottish Government.

There are three ways you can do this:

1. Download Victim Support Scotland’s response here and if you agree with the content, submit this to the Scottish Government here.
2. Download this letter and send it to the Scottish Government at: reportingconsultation@gov.scot
3.  Submit your own response to the consultation here.

The timeline to respond is by Tuesday 1 October at the latest.

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As the operators of Scotland’s only national service for families bereaved by crime, we are uniquely placed to contribute to this debate and have significant experience of supporting families to navigate media interest in their family tragedy.

We recognise that every family bereavement is painful, but families tell us that the loss of a child to homicide is particularly traumatic, and that media interest compounds and perpetuates their trauma.

Many families we support are initially shocked to find out that anonymity for children who die as a result of crime is not an automatic right.
Currently, there is no legislation to moderate media coverage of child homicide cases, and no requirement to balance this against the impact on the bereaved family.

VSS’s focus throughout has been on highlighting the experiences of families bereaved by crime, and the impact that crime continues to have on surviving siblings. They have a right to a childhood free from exposure to explicit details about their sibling’s death. We cannot overstate the traumatic impact graphic news coverage can have on surviving siblings, who become victims in their own right. It is increasingly challenging to shield children from harmful content as the internet is a daily essential for schoolwork and entertainment. We are told by parents that they live in fear of their surviving children accidently being exposed to age-inappropriate and violent coverage about their sibling’s case. Imposing anonymity provisions would be a major step towards safeguarding surviving siblings.

We are calling for:

• Automatic right to anonymity for children who die as a result of crime
• The family having the right to waive anonymity
• Introduction of a victim-centred and trauma-informed media Code of Conduct

VSS is acutely aware of views opposing anonymity for children who die as a result of crime. We firmly believe that our submission adequately responds and provides workable solutions to these challenges.

Our proposals mean that:

• Family and friends can talk publicly about their loss, should they choose to waive their right to anonymity
  the Police can fully investigate the crime
• Freedom of expression can be served
• Open justice will be delivered

We further note additional questions in the consultation regarding the creation of a media toolkit, application of the waiver and how it can be enforced, as well as application of Scottish legislation across a UK landscape.

Scotland is a progressive nation and strives to implement new legislation and policies to support all children. Children in life have a right to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. Therefore, we strongly believe we can and must extend this right of anonymity to children who die as a result of crime.