More help for child witnesses
6 Oct 05
Booklets and a CD published by the Executive to help prepare young people for going to court
Further material designed to prepare child witnesses for giving evidence has been made available by the Scottish Executive.
Two booklets each for criminal proceedings and for children’s hearings – one for children up to 11 years of age and the other for young people aged 12-15 – provide information about being a witness, including details of the special measures available. An associated interactive CD-ROM features a virtual courtroom tour, and footage of how each of the special measures might operate.
A fifth booklet is a generic one for parents and carers, covering both types of proceedings.
The booklets are intended to be used flexibly, depending on the maturity of the individual child witness. It is envisaged that the party citing the child witness will give the booklets to the child witness and their parents/carers.
It is important to note, in the case of children in particular, that an actual court familiarisation or remote site visit will still be the best way to assess a child’s understanding and any particular individual anxieties they might have about being a witness.
Copies of each publication can be obtained by contacting Isobel Gifford by email on: Isobel.Gifford@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by telephoning 0131 244 2213. The booklets are also available on request in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gaelic, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, and in electronic form on the Scottish Executive website.