Child evidence facility opens in Glasgow
A specialised facility where child witnesses can have their evidence pre-recorded, and other vulnerable witnesses give evidence remotely, was opened in Glasgow this morning.
The purpose built Glasgow Evidence & Hearings Suite was opened by Lady Dorrian, Lord Justice Clerk and Humza Yousaf, Cabinet Secretary for Justice.
In addition to its special facilities, the suite provides hearing rooms for the Additional Support Needs Tribunal.
Its design, with input from children and vulnerable witnesses, incorporates child-friendly hearing rooms for the pre-recording of evidence, “live link” rooms for evidence given by TV link to court, waiting rooms and support spaces. It also includes a sensory room to help create a calm and supportive environment, in contrast to the traditional courtroom.
Further suites are to be created in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Opening the suite, Lady Dorrian said: “Our earlier work on the Evidence and Procedure Review highlighted that subjecting children to the traditional adversarial form of examination and cross-examination at court is no longer acceptable, is unlikely to elicit the best quality of evidence and has the potential to cause further distress.
“This new suite will help children and vulnerable witnesses to give their best evidence, and have it tested, in a supportive environment, still respecting the need for a fair trial. Trauma-informed staff will manage the hearings and live TV links to court, taking account of the specific needs or vulnerabilities of the witness. This is another significant step in improving the way in which children and vulnerable witnesses are treated in our criminal justice system.”
Mr Yousaf added: “We are working closely with Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service and other partners to improve the experiences of children and vulnerable witnesses in the justice system, and this excellent new facility provides the technical quality required, with professional and supportive staff, within an environment designed to enable them to give their best evidence in criminal trials.
“Today we have laid commencement regulations in Parliament to ensure that any child witness under the age of 18 giving evidence in the most serious cases will be allowed to have it pre-recorded, sparing them the trauma of giving evidence during a trial. This first phase of implementing the new pre-recording rule will cover certain cases in the High Court. Modern facilities and technology play a vital role in delivering this change and I am pleased the Scottish Government has supported the development of this venue.”
SCTS chief executive Eric McQueen said: “There is now a coalition of judiciary, practitioners, voluntary organisations and politicians who have combined to bring about substantial change – change which should make the experience of children and vulnerable witnesses encountering the criminal justice system so much better, and more suitable in securing their best evidence.”
Learning from the new suite will inform the ongoing work to develop a Scottish barnahus, or child’s house, as used in Norway, where all the different services a child might need are provided under one roof.