Victims in the criminal justice system – Phase II

[1] A victim is for the purposes of this inspection the natural subject of any type of crime or, where a death has occurred, the next of kin. This is consistent with the definition used in 'The Scottish Strategy for Victims'.

[2] Joint Thematic Inspection Report by Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland - Victims of Crime in the Criminal Justice System - October 2010. Available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/327055/0105496.pdf

[3] The Scottish Strategy for Victims - Available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/158898/0043164.pdf

[4] The National Standards for Victims of Crime - Available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/36496/0024967.pdf

[5] The Scottish Policing Performance Framework is compilation of police performance indicators collected by forces and published annually by The Scottish Government. It provides comparative information between forces and from year to year where the data is available.

[6] Further information on Appropriate Adult Schemes is available at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/law/victims-witnesses/Appropriate-Adult

[7] Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice in foreword to Scottish Strategy for Victims 2001

[8] Viviane Reding, European Justice Minister March 2010

[9] Only 163 of the identified 180 case papers from COPFS were available for examination during the inspection

[10]Scottish Government: Recorded Crime in Scotland 2009-10. Available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/09/07084606/0

[11] Whilst the majority of Criminal Reports to COPFS are submitted by the police it should be noted that a number of other agencies also provide reports to COPFS and will be included in this total.

[12]Crown Office Management Information

[13] Scottish Crime Recording Standard was established by ACPOS to provide a single and consistent approach to the recording of crime across Scotland. Further information is available at http://www.acpos.police.uk/Documents/Policies/CRIME%20-%20Scottish%20Crime%20Recording%20Standard%20Manual.pdf

[14] The Scottish Policing Performance Framework Annual Report 2009/2010. Available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/328623/0106250.pdf

[15] Police Forces have call grading policies that allow them to prioritise calls to ensure that available resources are directed to the most urgent calls

[16] The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2010 can be viewed at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/01090437/0

[17] All Police Forces have an agreement with Victim Support Scotland that ensures that victims of crime can be referred to Victim Support Scotland for support whilst complying with Data Protection legislation

[18] Scottish Executive Central Research Unit: Research on Repeat Victimisation in Scotland. Haw & Pease, University of Huddersfield. Available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/156660/0042096.pdf

[19] Further information on the work being undertaken by Lancashire Constabulary and partners is available on www.lancashire.police.uk/need-to-know/antisocial-behaviour

[20] Joint Thematic Inspection Report by Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland - Victims of Crime in the Criminal Justice System - October 2010. Available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/327055/0105496.pdf

[21] Home Office Research Paper 50 - Exploring public confidence in the police and local councils in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. Available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/horr50/horr50-summary?view=Binary

[22] ACPOS: The Police Service in Scotland Performance Report 2010/2011. Available at www.acpos.police.uk/Documents/Policies/PM_ACPOS_PSS_Performance%20Report%20_Q4_Apr10-March11%20v1.0.pdf

[23] The Scottish Police Services Authority is a government body which is responsible for the delivery of core police services across Scotland. This includes the delivery of police training via The Scottish Police College, national police IT systems, forensic services and the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency ( SCDEA).

[24]The ACPOS Business Change Agenda aims to deliver a programme of common, integrated ICT systems which will support an agreed national business model of policing in Scotland

[25] Further information on the COPFS "Our Commitments to Victims and Witnesses" is available at www.copfs.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/Our-Commitments-Victims-and-Prosecution-Witnesses-Information-Leaflet

[26] Criminal Justice Joint Inspection; Report of a Joint Thematic Review of Victim and Witness Experiences in the Criminal Justice System, May 2009. Available at www.hmic.gov.uk/media/joint-inspection-victims-and-witnesses-20090429.pdf