Chamber and committees

Scots criminal law contains a range of provisions - in statute and common law - which protect people from being held unlawfully and from sexual exploitation and abuse. Those involved in sexual exploitation could be committing one or more of a variety of crimes, the most serious of which can attract up to life imprisonment. We are reviewing the law in this area and working with the Home Office on the development of the EU Framework Directive on combating trafficking in human beings and will take steps to implement the directive once it is agreed.

This was a report commissioned by Fife Council and the recommendations were mainly directed to the council. However, other local authorities may have lessons to learn from the report. We are aware that Fife Council has sent the report to all local authorities and they will want to determine whether the recommendations are relevant to their procedures.Recruitment practice was a key issue in this case, and the Scottish Executive is currently consulting externally on a safer recruitment "toolkit", commissioned by the Executive in response to a recommendation in the report of the Children's Safeguards Review.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues. Officials in the Scottish Executive Justice Department are working with the Home Office on the development of the EU Framework Decision on combating trafficking in human beings.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Governors notify the relevant police forces, of those prisoners who are on the Sex Offender Register and are due for release. The specific information requested is not collated centrally.

Recommendation 14 was aimed at local authorities and health boards as well as central government. Services for survivors of childhood sexual abuse are provided by a range of health, education, social care and criminal justice services funded by the Scottish Executive. The Executive also funds voluntary sector bodies to undertake work in this area, and I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-4765 on 28 February 2002.

(a) The Core Sex Offender Programme (STOP 2000) is currently available at HMP Barlinnie and HMP Peterhead.Criteria for this programme include a history of sex offending and appropriate cognitive ability. Those referred must agree to go onto the programme. Prisoners may be deemed not ready to take part in the programme in relation to a number of other criteria relating to literacy, physical and mental health and complete denial of offence.The Adapted Sex Offender Programme is available at HMP Peterhead and HMYOI Polmont.Criteria for this programme include a history of sex offending and cognitive level of borderline learning disability or below or social functioning problems. Again, the prisoner may be deemed not ready if they do not meet the other criteria such as mental and physical health, or are in complete denial.Sex offenders can also access Scottish Prison Service programmes for Anger Management, Cognitive Skills, Drugs, Problem Solving and Approved Activities in Relationships, Alcohol, Parenting and Drugs at most establishments.(b) The Scottish Executive funds local authorities through the 100% funding arrangements for criminal justice social work to provide programmes for sex offenders. Where a specific groupwork programme is not available in an area a qualified social worker will work with an offender on an individual basis to address his/her needs. All offenders subject to statutory supervision whether as part of a community sentence or on release from custody have access to programmes either on a group or individual basis. Offenders not subject to statutory post release supervision can access programmes by seeking voluntary assistance.

We have no such plans.

Part I of the Sex Offenders Act was reviewed jointly by the Scottish Executive and the Home Office in 2000 and the results published as part of a public consultation in July 2001. Consideration is currently being given to what further steps are needed to strengthen the Act as a result of the review, building on the measures already introduced in the Criminal and Court Services Act 2000.

Officials from the Justice Department are currently chairing the Implementation Group set up to carry into effect the recommendations of the Lord Advocate's Working Group on Child Witness Support. These recommendations cover a wide range of issues related to the experience of children within the criminal justice system. One of the major recommendations relates to supporting children prior to and at court and highlights the role of a child witness officer. Another central recommendation tackles the task of improving the conduct of interviews and precognitions with young witnesses. The implementation of the recommendations seeks to adopt an approach to child witnesses which recognises their vulnerability and serves their particular interests within the existing criminal justice system.The Scottish Executive will also shortly be publishing a consultation paper looking at whether further changes to the law of evidence are required to assist vulnerable witnesses (including children). The paper will look at the current statutory definition of "vulnerable person" and discuss possible changes to the special measures available at the moment to assist such witnesses when giving evidence, as well as possible new special measures.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:The Scottish Prison Service runs a sex offender programme developed by HMPS specifically for sex offenders with borderline or learning disability problems. The programme is called Adapted STOP and runs for 70 sessions. It is being delivered at HMP Peterhead for adult sex offenders and HMYOI Polmont for young offenders.