Justice Reform

Key Improvements for Victims of Crime

Although recorded crime is down very significantly over the long term under the SNP, the Scottish Government recognises that this is of little comfort for victims. This is why the SNP has continued to pursue policy changes that put their needs at the heart of the criminal justice system.

Last September, MSPs passed a landmark Scottish Government Bill to do just that. This legislation, which builds on progress in recent years, has been shaped by the voices of victims, survivors, their families and support organisations.

Key reforms include abolishing the ‘not proven’ verdict in all criminal trials to help create a clearer, fairer and more transparent decision-making process. The jury majority required for a conviction will move from a simple majority to at least two-thirds to ensure fairness and balance.

The SNP Government listened to compelling evidence on the not proven verdict - a widely misunderstood verdict and one with no statutory definition. It can have a devastating impact on complainers because of lack of clarity or closure, and it can leave a lingering stigma for the accused, which risks undermining public confidence, whereas the two opposing verdicts of guilty and not guilty are unambiguous and clear.

The Act will also see trauma-informed practice embedded across the justice system to avoid victims being re-traumatised by the legal process. It will improve the Victim Notification Scheme and establish an independent Victims and Witnesses Commissioner for Scotland to champion their rights, while bringing in various significant new measures to meet the needs of survivors of sexual offences.

The Act will additionally make reforms to the Parole Board for Scotland - including that the Board must take into account whether a prisoner has information about the disposal of a victim’s remains but has not disclosed it, and must consider the safety and security of any victim and/or family members as part of their decisions on release.

In a further move to improve access to justice, solicitors who provide legal aid will receive a 13% increase in fees from September this year. Since 2019, cumulative fee increases of just over 25% has outpaced inflation, with the most recent rise in April 2023 bringing total additional funding to £31 million since 2019.

An SNP Scottish Government will continue to centre victims of crime when it comes to questions of justice.