Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill

# Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill The Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill sought to strengthen the support and protection available to people who report crimes or give evidence in Scottish criminal proceedings. The legislation responded to concerns that victims and witnesses often experienced intimidation, distress, or inadequate support during their involvement with the justice system. The bill aimed to create a more coherent and comprehensive framework for victim and witness protection, recognising that vulnerable individuals required enhanced safeguards to ensure they could participate effectively in criminal cases and that justice outcomes would not be compromised by intimidation or poor treatment. The bill introduced a range of protective and supportive measures, including provisions for special measures to facilitate evidence-giving (such as screens, video links, or giving evidence remotely), enhanced victim notification schemes, and measures to address witness intimidation. It established clearer rights and entitlements for victims throughout the criminal justice process and strengthened mechanisms for courts to protect witnesses from harmful disclosure of personal information. The legislation also aimed to improve information-sharing between criminal justice agencies to enable better support services for those involved in prosecutions. The bill represented a significant modernisation of victim and witness protections in Scots criminal law, reflecting contemporary best practice and wider policy commitments to victim-centred justice.

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