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Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014
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[F1Provision of support to victimsS
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 3B-3D and cross-headings inserted (23.12.2015) by The Victims' Rights (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/444), regs. 1(2), 4
3D.Referral to providers of victim support servicesS
(1)The chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland must ensure that, as soon as reasonably practicable after a constable identifies a person who is or appears to be a victim in relation to an offence or alleged offence, a constable informs the person that—
(a)the person may request a referral to providers of victim support services from any competent authority, and
(b)the person may contact providers of victim support services directly without referral.
(2)Where a person who is or appears to be a victim in relation to an offence or alleged offence makes a request of a competent authority to be referred to providers of victim support services, the authority must, subject to the views of the person—
(a)disclose the person’s details to such providers of victim support services as the authority considers appropriate to the person’s needs, or
(b)provide the person with the name, address and telephone number of the providers of victim support services referred to in paragraph (a).
(3)Subsections (1) and (2) apply in relation to a person who is or appears to be a victim in relation to an offence or alleged offence regardless of whether or not the person has made a complaint about that offence or alleged offence.
(4)For the purposes of this section—
(a)a request made by a person who is or appears to be a victim in relation to an offence or alleged offence to a constable or a member of police staff is deemed to be a request made to the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland, and
(b)a request made by a person who is or appears to be a victim in relation to an offence or alleged offence to a procurator fiscal is deemed to be a request made to the Lord Advocate.
(5)In this section, “victim support services” means the provision of—
(a)information, advice and support to victims including information on compensation for criminal injuries, and the participation of victims in criminal proceedings,
(b)information about any relevant specialist support services in place,
(c)emotional and, where available, psychological support,
(d)advice relating to financial and practical issues arising from the crime,
(e)advice relating to the risk and prevention of—
(i)secondary and repeat victimisation,
(ii)intimidation, and
(iii)retaliation, and
(f)such other services as a competent authority considers appropriate to the needs of victims.]
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