Witness protection for the vulnerable

Children under the age of 12 living in Scotland will no longer have
to go to court in order to give evidence in cases involving sexual
or violent crime, under new Scottish executive proposals.

The executive has outlined a range of measures in a Vulnerable
Witnesses Bill that aims to modernise the justice system to provide
added protection and support to vulnerable groups.

The measures include vulnerable witnesses recording their evidence
before a trial and away from the court or giving it live via a TV
link.

Groups that could be helped by the proposals include all children
aged under 16 and people with a mental disorder which affects their
ability to give evidence.