Planned reforms to Scotland's children's hearings system will not now take effect until the second quarter of 2013, the Scottish Government has announced.
The agreed extension to the timetable comes after Children’s Hearings Scotland, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and others across the sector requested more time to successfully deliver planned improvements to the hearings system. The current system will remain in place until the reforms come into effect, ensuring children continue to receive the support they need.
Children’s Hearings Scotland Chairman, Craig Spence said:
“Children’s Hearings Scotland and indeed the whole sector, is fully supportive of the decision by Ministers to have timescales which will deliver positive change for children. We will work closely with partners to ensure all aspects are in place to the right standard at the right time.
“The priority is to deliver a new system which continues to make a positive difference to Scotland’s children and families.”
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Delays to planned reforms of children's hearings system
More support for child witnesses
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.