VICTIM Support Scotland (VSS) is developing a campaign which will target Scottish local authorities and outline the business case for additional investment in victim and witness services.
David McKenna, chief executive of VSS, will tell the annual general meeting today that the charity will soon publish a document entitled, ‘Do you really know how supporting victims of crime can make for a better Scotland’, which will demonstrate at least 30 ways in which the development of victim services at local authority level can help meet the Concordat agreed between the authorities and the Government and make Scotland, working in community partnerships, a safer, stronger place in which to live.
McKenna said: “The lost opportunity of not providing effective support to the victims of crime is staggering. It runs to many hundreds of millions of pounds. This cost directly impacts on the prosperity of Scotland. We need, all of us, to make this better for victims and for Scotland.”
McKenna added that VSS supported the reforms of summary justice. He said they worked, allowing victims’ cases to be disposed of more speedily – which was better for victims, offenders and communities – and sometimes resulted in a higher fiscal penalty or compensation award than might be given in the courts.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Victim Support Scotland. You too can post a media release (aka a press release) on allmediascotlan.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: David Sinclair
Phone: 0131 662 5409
Email: david.sinclair@victimsupportsco.org.uk
