Question reference: S6W-24822
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 25 January 2024
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Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 5 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, what range of sexual offences would be covered by the proposed Sexual Offences Court.
Answer
The range of sexual offences that fall under the proposed jurisdiction of the Sexual Offences Court is set out at Schedule 3 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. This list includes offences such as rape, sexual assault as well as disclosure or threatened disclosure of an intimate photograph or film.
Provided at least one of those offences is included on the indictment, the decision on whether to indict a case to the Sexual Offences Court is for independent prosecutors acting with the delegated authority of the Lord Advocate.
The Court will transform how sexual offence cases are managed within our court system, delivering meaningful and lasting improvements to the experience of victims in these cases.