Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Criathragan Hide all filters

Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 17 March 2025
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 1088 contributions

|

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

What are the barriers to implementing something like that now?

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

I have one final question. Listening to the opening remarks, I noted that everybody is supportive of change. The comments were totally supportive and the organisations are absolutely committed. John Watt mentioned a complete review of the system, which I am totally in favour of. I agreed with his comments. He also talked about keeping victims informed so that nothing comes as a surprise, which seems to be one of the main things that causes trauma. Again, it seems to be more about processes and procedures than new legislation. Will bringing in the legislation hinder a review of the system, or will it help it?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

I argue that that is because it is not reported.

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

This one.

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

I have one last question. You mentioned earlier that you interviewed 12 people, and you obviously have a lot of different examples. Do you think that the bill addresses the issues that were raised by the people you interviewed? There are a lot of practices and procedures. We have heard before that there has been a lot of change in other organisations, and they have managed to do that without legislation. Will the bill address the examples that you have, or could the other organisations do things through changes to their practices?

10:15  

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

I agree with your comments: get it right at the beginning so that you get the right result at the end.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

Bill Fitzpatrick has touched on my point about outcomes. Going back to John Swinney’s last question, he mentioned figures for youth justice and the lower number of youths in custody, but I certainly get a lot more complaints in my inbox about the rise in antisocial behaviour and crime on the streets. It seems that the police say that their hands are tied in the action that they can take. What role would community justice have there? What action needs to be taken? Where are we failing in that respect? We say we have good measurements because we have fewer youths in custody, but crime out on the street seems to be on the rise. As far as outcomes go, that is not a good outcome.

12:45  

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

No, but it was about focusing the resources that you have on the right areas.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

Okay. I go back to Bill Fitzpatrick’s point. Some of the organisations need to give us more evidence on the outcomes.

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 1 November 2023

Sharon Dowey

Dr Bruce, in your submission, you suggest that the definition of trauma-informed practice in the bill should be more fully aligned with the agreed consensus definition that is contained in the framework. Do you think that there are risks if we do not get the definition of “trauma-informed” right in the bill?