The Scottish Government has made some progress, but still has a long way to go, in improving the rights of victims of crime ("Rape victim 'courageous'", The Herald, July 30).
It seems to me that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) needs to review its procedures so as to show victims and witnesses of crime greater respect. In my experience, many victims and witnesses are left poorly informed of developments while prosecution of a criminal offence involving them progresses – often painfully slowly – through the criminal justice system.
If, once their deliberations are completed, COPFS decides to take the case to trial, victims and witnesses are then liable to be cited to give their evidence in court at very short notice. This adds last-minute inconvenience to the profound stress already entailed in having to face the accused person in open court.
When they attend court, victims and witnesses are routinely left to sit anxiously in cheerless waiting rooms for many hours, with little or no input from COPFS as to the likely progress of their case on the day.
Hearings are often adjourned – sometimes more than once – with little or no explanation from COPFS to victims and witnesses, who then have to repeat the whole ordeal.
These are ordinary folk, who are blamelessly caught up in an unfamiliar, labyrinthine and needlessly prolonged process.
Attending court often requires them to take time off work, travel considerable distances, and make alternative domestic and childcare arrangements.
They are the most important people in the criminal justice system, with an absolute right to be given full and accurate information affecting them when and where they need it. Yet the system appears to treat them not as individuals with rights and feelings, but simply as pieces of evidence to be held in readiness for as long as necessary.
As part of the Government’s promised improvements, I hope that COPFS will strengthen or introduce measures to ensure, at a fundamental level, that victims and witnesses of crime are at all times shown the respect they deserve.
Iain Stuart,
34 Oakbank Crescent,
Perth.
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