Phase 3 & 4 Implementation Steering Group

Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 - Phase 3 & 4 - Implementation Steering Group

This section provides details of membership and remit of the above group. Papers and minutes of meetings are currently being converted for the website and will be posted here.

Remit

Aim

To assist the Scottish Government to develop and take forward practical measures required to ensure the effective implementation of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 in relation to child witnesses and adult vulnerable witnesses in Sheriff Court summary proceedings and civil proceedings in both the Sheriff Court and the Court of Session.

Objectives

To assist in ensuring the development of appropriate procedures, advice and guidance for the effective implementation of phases 3 and 4 of the Act.

To consider issues emerging from the Vulnerable Witness Officer pilots.

To take account of any emerging issues from the monitoring and evaluation of the phases of the Act that have already been commenced.

To advise on and assist with the preparation of any secondary legislation required to implement phases 3 and 4.

To assist with the production of relevant promotional and guidance material and undertaking promotional activity to raise awareness amongst witnesses and organisations and agencies of the Act's provisions relating to child and adult vulnerable witnesses in Sheriff Court summary cases and civil proceedings.

Membership

Valerie MacNiven (Chair)	Director of Criminal Justice Directorate
Paul Smart	Deputy Director of Criminal Justice Directorate - Victims & Witnesses Unit
Bill Moore	Head of Witnesses Branch, Criminal Justice Directorate Victims & Witnesses Unit
Mark Connelly	Senior Researcher, Social Research, Justice Directorate
Hazel Christie	Witnesses Branch, Criminal Justice Directorate - Victims and Witnesses Unit
Gillian Heavie (Secretary)	Witnesses Branch, Criminal Justice Directorate - Victims and Witnesses Unit
Alex Davidson	Association of Directors of Social Work
Ch Supt Bruce Duncan	Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland
Robert Gordon	Scottish Courts Service
Andrew McIntyre	Crown Office & Procurator Fiscals Office
Valerie Montgomery	Lord President of the Court of Session Office
Tom Murray	Scottish Legal Aid Board
Eileen M.J. Paterson	Law Society of Scotland
Neil Paterson	Victim Support Scotland
David Shand	Acting Principal Clerk of Session & Justiciary
Alison Wright	Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
Moira McKinnon	Association of Directors of Social Work
Gordon Watt	Head of Children's Hearing Team
Hamish Goodall	Civil Justice and International Division