2. Information for Victims and Witnesses of Crime
2.1 Your rights as a victim or witness
If you are a victim of crime you have a number of rights. The Victim’s Code for Scotland sets out these rights and how you can exercise them. The document is available at www.mygov.scot/victim-witness-rights
The Standards of Service for Victims and Witnesses is a document that explains what you can expect to happen at each stage of the criminal justice process, the standards of service you can expect and who you can contact for help and advice.
The document is available on the websites of each of the following criminal justice agencies and by contacting any of these agencies:
Scotland
www.scotland.police.uk
The Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service
www.copfs.gov.uk
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
www.scotcourts.gov.uk
The Scottish Prison Service
www.sps.gov.uk
The Parole Board for Scotland
www.scottishparoleboard.gov.uk
2.2 Information on progress of cases
As a victim or witness of crime, you may be provided with information on the progress of the case by Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
For cases involving children, hate crime, domestic abuse, serious violent and sexual crimes and where it is likely that a trial will involve a jury, case information is provided to victims and witnesses by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal.
Victim Information and Advice Service
www.copfs.gov.uk/involved-in-a-case/victims
Email
EnquiryPoint@copfs.gsi.gov.uk
Postal Address
Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service
25 Chambers Street
Edinburgh EH1 1LA
Telephone
01389 739 557, rates from mobile telephones may vary by provider.
Calls can be made through RNID Typetalk by prefixing the telephone number with 18001.
Deaf sign language users should text on 07825 280346, specifying if you would prefer your reply by sms, text or email. This will include, for example, decisions on bail and sentencing.
For all other cases, information may be provided by the Police if you ask for an update directly. Otherwise, you will not generally be told the outcome of a case (e.g. whether an alternative to prosecution was used, the details of decisions on bail, and the final outcome of a case if it goes to court).
To find out what has happened with your case, you can use your right to information.
2.3 Right to information – victims and witnesses
You have the right to be given certain information on your case by the criminal justice agencies, and can make a formal application for this information if this has not been provided to you.
Contact Police Scotland for:
Information about a decision not to proceed with a criminal investigation and any reasons for it. Information about a decision to end a criminal investigation and any reasons for it.
Contact the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for:
The reason why a case was not prosecuted.
Contact the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service for:
The dates of any court hearings, the final decision of a court in a trial or any appeal arising from a trial and any reasons for it.
Protocols are in place that determine what information you have a right to at what stage and who to contact. You can access these from:
2.4 Support for victims and witnesses
You have the right to use victim and witness support services if you are a victim of or witness to a crime. The Police must provide victims with a Victim Care Card which gives you basic information on the case and the details of support services. The Police and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service must let you know of the support available to you and refer you to a support service if you request this.
Victim Support Scotland has a network of local offices www.victimsupport.scot and provides emotional support, practical help and essential information to victims, witnesses and others affected by crime. The services provided by Victim Support Scotland are free and confidential.
Helpline
0800 160 1985
There are a number of other organisations, including specialist services able to provide free and confidential emotional support, practical help and essential information to victims of crime. These will vary depending on which area of Scotland you live in.
Community Justice Glasgow
Eastgate Building
727 London Road
Glasgow G40 3AQ
Tel: 0141 287 0916
Email: communityjustice@glasgow.gov.uk
Twitter: @CJusticeGlasgow