Roundtable on the end point for anonymity for child victims

Report

1. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs chaired a roundtable on the end point for anonymity for child victims on 20 February 2024 in Edinburgh.

2. The purpose of the event was to bring together experts from across the legal profession, justice agencies, academia, media, third sector and government to participate in an evidence-led discussion. This was intended to inform the Scottish Government’s response to questions around the end point of anonymity that were raised in the context of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill^[1] and the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill^[2].

3. The following individuals and representatives took part in the roundtable:

• Angela Constance MSP (chair), Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
• Julianna Cartwright, Faculty of Advocates
• Cheryl Clark, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Children and Equalities Team
• Natalie Don MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise
• Anna Donald, Scottish Government
• Carol Eden, Victim Support Scotland
• Megan Farr, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• Russell Findlay MSP, Scottish Conservative’s justice spokesperson
• Mary Glasgow, Children 1^st
• Ross Greer MSP, member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee
• Ruth Maguire MSP, member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee
• Brendan McGinty, Independent Press Standards Organisation
• Nick McGowan-Lowe, National Union of Journalists
• Anthony McIlvaney, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• John McLellan, Newsbrands Scotland
• Pauline McNeil MSP, Scottish Labour’s justice spokesperson
• ACC Wendy Middleton, Police Scotland, Criminal Justice Services Division
• Audrey Nicoll MSP, convener of the Criminal Justice Committee
• Jules Oldham, Scottish Women’s Aid
• Stephanie Ross, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Children and Equalities Team
• Patricia Thom, Law Society of Scotland
• Dr Andrew Tickell, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Kate Wallace, Victim Support Scotland
• Sue Webber MSP, convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee

4. The format of the event saw introductory remarks by the Cabinet Secretary, followed by contributions from Kate Wallace of Victim Support Scotland, Dr Andrew Tickell of Glasgow Caledonian University and Nick McGowan-Lowe of the National Union of Journalists. The floor was then opened for a discussion held under the Chatham House Rule, meaning it was agreed the discussion could be reported upon, but any report would be unattributed.

5. This report summarises the Cabinet Secretary’s introductory remarks, the contributions from the three speakers and the subsequent discussion. It then sets out the Scottish Government’s next steps, which have been informed by the discussion at the roundtable, as well as our research on anonymity in other jurisdictions and representations from people with lived experience.

Criminal Justice Division

Scottish Government

March 2024