Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill Conference

The Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill Conference is taking place in the heart of Glasgow. Come for an insightful look at the realm of justice reform.

With esteemed speakers including Chair: Naeema Sajid, Seonaid Stevenson-McCabe, Sandy Brindley, Gareth Reid, and Kevin Henry, this conference promises an in-depth exploration of ground-breaking legislation reshaping Scotland's legal landscape.

Explore the complexities of the bill's six key provisions, from establishing the Victims and Witnesses Commissioner to implementing trauma-informed practices in both criminal and civil courts. Uncover the significant changes, including the removal of the not proven verdict, adjustments to the criminal jury, and the establishment of a revolutionary sexual offences court. Learn about the commitment to providing victims of sexual offences with lifetime anonymity and the empowerment of complainants by granting them the right to independent legal representation.

Join us at this conference for a unique opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of justice reform, where compassion, transparency, and fairness take centre stage. Be part of this crucial conversation as we collectively forge a path toward a more compassionate and responsive justice system in Scotland.

CPD 4.5 hours

PEAT Outcome - Relevant legal knowledge

OBJECTIVES

The Bill covers a wide range of matters. Many of these relate to the experience of victims and witnesses in the justice process, especially sexual offence cases. The Bill also makes some broader reforms to the criminal justice process.

PARTICIPANTS

This conference is aimed at anyone interested in this area of law including trainees, solicitors and anyone working in the advice sector.

SPEAKERS

Chair: Naeema Yaqoob Sajid, Founder, Diversity+

Naeema is a solicitor with over 20 years’ experience in the Scottish legal sector. Naeema has held posts in both public and private organisations. She is a passionate advocate of equality, diversity and inclusion, in all its forms. Over the last few years her interest and knowledge in this area has grown and increasingly she has been asked to assist organisations and individuals to improve their policies and procedures, with the aim to improving productivity and performance.

Seonaid Stevenson-McCabe is a Lecturer in Law at Glasgow Caledonian University.

With her colleague Dr Andrew Tickell and GCU students she founded the Campaign for Complainer Anonymity which called for an automatic life-long right to anonymity for complainers in Scottish sexual offence cases. Seonaid is also the co-lead of the Women in Law Project where she researches the past, documents the present and advocates for the future of women in law. Her doctoral research focuses on sexual offence lawyering in Scotland. Seonaid is a Scots qualified solicitor and the Vice Chair of JUSTICE Scotland.

Sandy Brindley, Chief Executive, Rape Crisis Scotland

Sandy has been involved the Rape Crisis movement in Scotland for more than 20 years, supporting and advocating for survivors of sexual violence. Her work and activism through this time has been heavily influential in driving progress for survivors of rape, sexual assault and abuse in Scotland both in terms of legislative change and improved individual and institutional responses and seeking to address the attitudes and culture that permits this violence. Sandy sits on multiple strategic forums and taskforces – including those of the Scottish Government – contributing her own expertise and working consistently to ensure that survivors voices are heard by those with the power to effect change. In 2018 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glasgow in recognition of her efforts and achievements.

Gareth Reid, Advocate, Optimum Advocates

Gareth called to the Bar in 2022 as a Lord Hope Scholar, having fulfilled various roles with COPFS. Gareth has significant trial experience, having prosecuted both summary and sheriff and jury cases as a fiscal in Glasgow Sheriff Court. He is well versed in leading evidence from experts, child and vulnerable witnesses in sexual and sensitive cases. He was part of the Crown team assigned to work on the 2015 Glasgow Bin Lorry FAI. Latterly, Gareth was a senior procurator fiscal depute in Crown Office where he focused on civil matters, including the case in which the Lord Advocate’s immunity was reconsidered by the Inner House in 2019. He also has experience of working on two private prosecution applications which were brought before the High Court in 2016. During devilling, Gareth gained experience in the areas of public law, personal injury and clinical negligence.

Kevin Henry, Advocate, Optimum Advocates

Kevin called to the bar in 2018 after practicing as a solicitor for 7 years. Kevin prosecuted numerous criminal cases while working as a Procurator Fiscal Depute in Airdrie and Glasgow. He then moved to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission as a Legal Officer. During his time at the SCCRC, Kevin gained significant experience in relation to criminal appeals.

PROGRAMME

9.30-10.00 Registration and refreshments

10.00-10.15 Introduction from Chair

10.15-11.00 Part 2: Sandy Brindley will discuss about about Part 2 which is about “embeds trauma-informed practice in criminal and civil courts”.

11.00-11.15 Tea/Coffee

11.15-12.00 Part 4: Gareth Reid and Kevin Henry will discuss about Part 4 of the Bill which is about “changes the size of a criminal jury, makes rules about majority verdicts and what happens when a juror is dismissed or unable to continue on the jury, removes the not proven verdict”.

12.00-12.45 Part 5: Gareth Reid and Kevin Henry will discuss about Part 6 of the Bill which is about “creates a new sexual offences court and sets out how it will operates within the criminal justice system”.

12.45-1.30 Lunch (provided)

1.30-2.15 Part 6: Seonaid Stevenson-McCabe will discuss provisions to provide automatic life-long anonymity for victims of sexual offences, outlining the current position for complainers in Scotland, the position in other jurisdictions, and where we go from here.

2.15-2.45 Q&A and closing remarks

Host or Publisher Legal Services Agency Ltd