Current status: Answered by Elish Angiolini on 19 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many witnesses, claiming intimidation, have refused to give evidence on behalf of the Crown in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court in the (a) West of Scotland and (b) Central Scotland parliamentary region.
The information requestedis not held by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government is committed tomodernising the justice system to fully support victims and witnesses, to increasesupport and improve standards of treatment for vulnerable witnesses to help themparticipate in legal proceedings and give their best evidence.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is responsiveto the needs of intimidated witnesses and works closely with other agencies includingthe Witness Service and the Scottish Court Service to ensure that, where appropriate,special arrangements are in place for such witnesses including making particulararrangements for the witness to enter and leave from court via a staff door or waitingin area that is separate from the witness waiting room.
Following implementationof the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004, the Crown can apply for specialmeasures for adult vulnerable witnesses whose quality of evidence will be diminishedby fear or distress in connection with giving evidence at court to make it easierfor them to give their evidence.