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Good afternoon. I will ask about the development of the barnahus, or bairns’ hoose, model. The issue came up during the passage of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019 in the previous parliamentary session. It was a big part of what the committee asked the Government to commit to, and I am pleased to see that that commitment has been taken forward.

Mary Glasgow, what has been the role of Children 1st in expanding that work? What have you done and how have you worked with partner agencies? What stage is the work at?

Thanks, Mary. It is really encouraging to hear that. I would like to bring in Kate Wallace to speak about the role of Victim Support Scotland in that development. What impact could that have for child witnesses?

I know that Rona Mackay has an interest in the same area, convener, so I am happy to leave my questioning there.

You are right to say that other members are likely to pick up on that.

I think that the answers to the questions from Rona Mackay and me have covered a lot of the general background and that the witnesses want to move on to specific areas. I am happy to leave it there, convener, unless any of the witnesses wants to come in on the impact of Covid.

I think that your submission goes on to mention issues around reporting and whether people felt able to make reports during the pandemic, but I know that that area will be covered later.

I ask Sandy Brindley to answer my initial question about the impact of Covid.

I have a general question about Scotland’s approach to youth offending. The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit has done some fantastic work. What can we learn from the work of that team in our approach to youth offending? Many positive things are happening—people would expect me to say that given that I used to work in the sector. What can we learn from the Violence Reduction Unit’s public health approach and message in our other work? I will start with Niven Rennie.

Yes. I know that you had been looking to come back in anyway, so please bring up any other points that you want to cover.

Superintendent Convery makes an important point. Some of the young people who display the most challenging behaviour in our communities, which affects those communities badly, are also some of our most traumatised young people. How important is it to find a balance there, and how can we get that right? How do we ensure that we put welfare, and a human rights approach to our children, at the centre of our system? Perhaps I can bring in Diane Dobbie on that.

I am happy with that response to my general question. I have another question to put later on, but three witnesses still want to come in on this subject; I defer to you on that, convener.

That is a very helpful overview. Superintendent Convery, do you want to come in on that and expand on the point that Niven Rennie made? How important is it that we take into account all the different factors, including child welfare, when dealing with youth offending? You probably heard Bruce Adamson in the previous session talking about taking a human rights approach.