Victim Notification Scheme recommendations: FOI release

Information requested

1. What consideration has the Scottish Government given to recommendations made by the independent review of the Victim Notification Scheme?

2. What engagement with stakeholders has the Scottish Government carried out following the recommendations?

3. Has the Scottish Government provided a response to those recommendations?

4. What action does the Scottish Government plan to take to reform the Victim Notification Scheme?

Response

Question 1) What consideration has the Scottish Government given to recommendations made by the independent review of the Victim Notification Scheme?

Our response: The Scottish Government has given careful consideration to the recommendations made by the independent review of the Victim Notification Scheme, following its publication in May 2023.

Question 2) What engagement with stakeholders has the Scottish Government carried out following the recommendations?

Our response: The Scottish Government has undertaken an extensive consultation exercise with the following stakeholders, in order to inform its response to the review:

ASSIST	Canadian Correctional Service	Children 1st	Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service	His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service Victims Team
Home Office	Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland	Ministry of Justice	Parole Board for Scotland	Rape Crisis Scotland
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service	Scottish Prison Service	Scottish Women's Aid	Victims' Organisations Collaboration Forum	Victim Support Scotland

The Scottish Government has also engaged with the Victims' Taskforce, and with the leads of the Victims Taskforce workstreams.

Question 3) Has the Scottish Government provided a response to those recommendations?

Our response: The Scottish Government has not yet published its response to the recommendations. The Scottish Government looks to publish its response within coming weeks.

4) What action does the Scottish Government plan to take to reform the Victim Notification Scheme?

Our response: The actions that the Scottish Government plans to take to reform the Victim Notification Scheme will be set out within its response to the review.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.