1. Victim Support
Scotland
Presentation to UNDP Conference
“Judicial Reforms and the
Empowerment of Victims”
Zagreb 28/29 November 2012
2. Overview
• Scotland – Statistical Information
• History and Structures – of VSS
• National and local Government
• Funding Arrangements
• Referral Systems –Victims & Witnesses
• Use of Volunteers
• The Future
3. Our Core Values & Beliefs
• Independent
• Open
• Free
• Confidential
• Volunteer led
• Accessible
• High in Value
• Highest Quality
6. Scotland
• Population 5.4 Million
• 78,789 Square kilometres
• 5 Major Cities
• Scottish Government & Parliament
• 32 Local Government Regions
• 8 Police Forces (Move to One April 2013)
• One Crown & Prosecution Service
• 500,000 Victims of crime per year
7. Victim Support Scotland
• 1981 First Victim Scheme
• 1985 Victim Support Scotland established
• 1998 31 Area Services created
• 1999 Witness Service created
• 2003 Roll out across Scotland
• 2007 Moved to One Charity Status
• 2012 145 Staff 725 Volunteers
8. How is Victim Service Managed
• 97% of Referrals from Police Service
• Moving towards Automated Data Transfer
• 100,000 Referrals per year
• Initial Assessment by Staff
• Volunteer allocated
• Case Managed under staff supervision
9. Assessment Framework
• Information from referral agency
• Initial brief questions with the victim
• Ongoing assessment – Life, Practical,
Social, Physical and Emotional
- Self completion questionnaire- 12 months
before, now and 4 weeks after the crime
- Package of support developed
10. Court Based Witness Service
• 2001 Roll out across Scotland
• All Sheriff and High Courts
• COPFS – Referrals in Serious Cases
• Initial Contact – Assessment
• Pre court familiarisation visit
• Support on the day
• No knowledge of details of case
12. Scottish Parliament
• Established in 2006
• Delegated powers
• Concordat with 32 local Authorities
• Partnerships with VSS
• Relationships
• Funding
13. European Directive
• Right to Information
• Right to understand and be understood
• Service Standards
• Feeling supported
• Vulnerability
• Feeling Safe
• Feeling involved
• Make offenders pay
• Victims surcharge
14. The Future
• People bereaved through crime
• Support to Children and Young People
• 24/7 service