The Scottish Government has outlined new measures to improve the experience for child witnesses while they give evidence.
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill published renewed interview guidance for police officers and social workers and announced the roll out of visual recording equipment.
With the focus firmly on the best interests of the child, these new developments will help to ensure that the justice and children's hearings systems keep pace with modern life and provide better support for victims and witnesses, allowing them to give their best evidence and participate effectively in the process.
Costs related to the procurement of the visual recording equipment will be met from existing budgets and are expected to be £315,000 in the current financial year. This will deliver 36 interview suites and around 55 mobile recording kits across Scotland.
The revised Guidance on Joint Investigative Interviewing (JII) of Child Witnesses in Scotland promotes best practice for police officers and social workers undertaking JIIs with children.
The Scottish Government set up a multi-agency National Strategic Group to revise the guidance, purchase and roll-out of visual recording equipment and consider training requirements.
The revised guidance ensures consistency with the updated National Child Protection guidance published in December 2010 and will assist compliance with the requirements of European legislation.