Welcome to our week in review. This week, young people are front-and-centre of the news, inspiring peers and taking on new challenges thanks to Cashback for Communities.
No knives better lives – a visit to Braeview Academy in Dundee
Youth volunteers from Police Scotland met with S1 and S2 pupils and the Justice Secretary at Braeview Academy in Dundee on Wednesday, where they delivered live sessions on the dangers of knife carrying. The sessions, created in collaboration with Police Scotland Youth Volunteers and No Knives Better Lives, have already reached more than 2,700 pupils.
Mr Matheson said:
“These sessions are an excellent example of collaborative work between organisations and those who have our young people’s safety and resilience at their heart.
“For me they highlight the importance of prevention programmes, such as Police Scotland Youth Volunteers and No Knives Better Lives, and how their shared approach can help to deter and divert people from harmful behaviours and can encourage positive relationships that are founded on respect, tolerance and inclusion.”
Basketball boost thanks to cashback
Children from Tyncastle High School showed the Justice Secretary the difference Cashback for Communities has had on their lives through participation in CashBack Schools of Basketball programme.
The programme gives selected pupils the opportunity to train in a sporting environment daily, including a minimum of three basketball sessions as part of their school week. It is designed not only to improve participant’s basketball skills and physical competencies, but to also develop their confidence, communication, discipline and respect.
Since 2008 the Scottish Government has committed £92 million to CashBack initiatives, delivering nearly two million activities and opportunities for young people across all 32 local authorities. The CashBack programme offers a wide range of opportunities covering sporting, cultural, youth work and community for young people aged 10-24.
— basketballscotland (@basketballscot) May 10, 2018
Breathtaking views on your bike
This week we launched our Breathtaking Roads campaign – a one-stop destination for motorcyclists in Scotland to stay safe. From breathtaking routes to top tips on safety, how to prepare for Scottish weather and what to wear on your bike, it’s worth a look for anyone who wants to enjoy some of Scotland’s most spectacular roads safely.
Check out our Breathtaking Roads campaign – a one stop destination for motorcyclists in Scotland. From routes to top tips from the Scottish biking community, you'll find it here. https://t.co/nQsATFGj5Ypic.twitter.com/j2mitA81TR
— Road Safety Scotland (@RoadSafetyScot) May 8, 2018
Welcome to this week’s round-up. Another busy seven days included a historic day for accessing civil justice, new fire appliances launched in the North East and an update on police numbers.
This means that people considering legal action to enforce their rights will, in future, have a wider range of funding options and better protection from court costs under the new legislation, including greater funding equity between claimants and defenders in personal injury actions.
The legislation was endorsed by the Law Society, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and retired Sheriff Principal James Taylor, whose report inspired the legislation. Leading the stage 3 debate in Parliament, Minister for Legal Affairs Annabelle Ewing said:
“This bill will improve the ability of people in Scotland who have a civil claim to pursue that case in the courts. It seeks to remove some of the barriers which, in the past, have deterred individuals from accessing justice in the civil courts.”
Scotland has created the gold standard for funding personal injury claims. The Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Act means cases will be settled or negotiated on their merits, without worries about swingeing costs being awarded against injured pursuers
Firefighters will soon be armed with the latest technology to tackle fires – capable of blasting through solid concrete and steel. The Ultra High Pressure Lances – branded ‘Coldcut’ – will enable crews to inject a fire suppressant through the wall of a burning building to more quickly douse the flames inside.
Annabelle Ewing saw the power of the new devices as part of a live demonstration by ACO Lewis Ramsay as they were unveiled at Portlethen Fire Station
Already used by fire and rescue services in 45 countries worldwide, crews do not have to enter every burning building to reach and extinguish the flames. They will now form one part of an arsenal of the latest equipment carried by 40 brand new, purpose-built fire appliances, part of a combined £7.6 million investment by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in the safety of the country’s most rural and remote communities.
Annabelle Ewing said: “This investment will help SFRS to better meet the needs of rural communities, provide greater flexibility and significantly extend the Service’s firefighting capability.”
SFRS Chief Officer Alasdair Hay added: “This proven firefighting technology means our crews can begin firefighting within seconds of arriving by cutting straight to the heart of the fire.”
Today @aewingmsp visited @fire_scot to see the latest firefighting tech and appliances for rural areas. Here's the moment the 'cold cutting' jet broke through two inches of solid concrete. It can reduce the temperature of a fire by 90% in just 60 secs. pic.twitter.com/5vBJPj431U
Statistics on Police Officer Quarterly Strength, published by Scotland’s Chief Statistician this week showed that there were 17,170 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 31 March 2018.
Noting the figures, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The Policing 2026 strategy committed Police Scotland to the right workforce mix, including civilian specialists and other support staff to tackle the new and emerging challenges of modern criminal activity while keeping officer numbers significantly above what this government inherited in 2007.
“Today’s figures confirm this plan is taking effect and they have signalled that a number of officers have been freed up from back-office roles to ensure the frontline is maintained and enhanced, as outlined in the strategy.
“While staffing is a matter for the Chief Constable, I am acutely aware that the public will want to be assured that our hard working police officers are able to offer the best possible service to keep our communities safe. HMICS and the Scottish Police Authority must continue to oversee the implementation of the strategy to ensure the force can continue to provide an excellent service across Scotland.”
Serving up second chances
From its site in Glasgow’s leafy Mansfield Park the sleek Street & Arrow truck has been dishing up tasty modern street food for a number of years. However this social enterprise does more than just good grub, it’s also serving up second chances for its employees.
Street & Arrow hires former offenders for twelve month blocks. During that time workers are paired with a mentor who can help them master everything from basic employment skills like turning up to work on time through to debt management and relationship issues.
Funded by the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) , Michael Matheson met some of the current cohort of trainee chefs, as well as key figures from the VRU over breakfast this week.
He heard how the project is improving employment opportunities for the chefs working with the project as well as an update from the VRU on how their globally-respected work on reducing violent crime across Scotland.
This week also saw the University of Glasgow publish a set of findings on how information is conveyed to jurors. The research was funded by the Scottish Government following evidence to suggest that jurors can face considerable challenges in recalling both the evidence and the legal directions in a criminal trial and that they can struggle to understand legal directions.
The Scottish Government has welcomed the report and its findings, noting that it would be for the judiciary to consider them further. The Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian, said: “We are already actively considering ways to provide juries with the best possible support in reaching their verdicts. We have, in particular, already started to look closely at the measures promoted in the report, knowing that they are used in other jurisdictions to good effect.”
This week’s round-up includes the launch of new guidance to tackle gender-based violence on campus, CashBack funding for creative and cultural projects, launch of the consultation on Scotland’s disclosure regime, water safety awareness and a new family centre at HMP Shotts.
Tackling sexual violence and harassment on campus
Fiona Drouet says "This is Emily's legacy…institutions now have the help they need to pass the #emilytest and I believe that had this been in place while our daughter was at University it could have saved her life." pic.twitter.com/3vkB5Enxic
New practical guidance for universities to tackle gender-based violence on campus has been produced by the University of Strathclyde with Scottish Government funding.
Guidance and training for staff, better data collection and well-publicised support information for students are some of the recommendations set out in the toolkit, which will also be adapted for colleges.
It takes forward the principles set out in the #emilytest campaign set up by Fiona Drouet, in memory of her daughter Emily, an undergraduate student who took her own life in March 2016.
This week the CashBack for Creativity Open Fund awarded a total of £252,000 to 32 community-based arts project across the country.
CashBack for Creativity is funded through the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme, which redistributes the proceeds of crime to benefit young people.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson made the announcement on a visit to WHALE Arts in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh where he met young people who have benefited from CashBack funding.
He said: “Since 2008 we have committed £92 million to CashBack and other community programmes with £6.3 million invested in CashBack for Creativity initiatives. I am keen to ensure that such opportunities continue to be provided to help young people develop skills for the workplace, gain confidence and find employment.”
Changes proposed for those working with vulnerable people.
Sports coaches working with children and other vulnerable groups will be required to undergo mandatory disclosure checks under new proposals.
This week Disclosure Scotland published a consultation to review Scotland’s disclosure regime, including the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, which covers those working with children and the vulnerable.
Minister for Childcare and Early Years Maree Todd said: “These proposals will allow Disclosure Scotland to improve its services to customers, simplifying and modernising our disclosure system so that it’s fit for a digital future, whilst continuing to ensure people receive the best possible protection.”
New family centre at HMP Shotts
Scottish Prison Service Published by Scott Calton · Just now · @MareeToddMSP minister for childcare and early years officially opening HMP Shotts Visitor Centre today. pic.twitter.com/4QWlhJiX37
Minister for Childcare and Early Years Maree Todd visited HMP Shotts on Tuesday to formally open the new family visitors centre.
The new centre is being delivered by Getting Better Together, a local charity, and the Scottish Prison Service.
Early Years Minister Maree Todd said: “It is great to see the really positive connections between the prison estate and the local community – whether that is through local community organisations working in partnership, or through the support of the local authority and health boards.”
— Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (@fire_scot) April 24, 2018
Over 300 people in the UK tragically die every year after tripping, falling or simply underestimating the risks of being near water.
This week, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service joined forces with UK colleagues to raise awareness of the dangers through the Be Water Aware campaign.
Assistant Chief Officer of Prevention and Protection David McGown said: “Through our relentless prevention work we have successfully reduced the number of fire deaths and we will apply those very same principles to water safety. By supporting water safety and drowning week we hope to reduce the number of casualties and fatalities in Scotland.”
Welcome back to our week in review – we hope you enjoyed Easter.
This week, Ministers announced plans to extend an innovative community sentence project tackling domestic abuse, greater support for victims of crime, including families of murder victims, and support for an innovative outdoor learning residential and urban community-based project. We also saw a step forward in correcting the injustice of gay men convicted under historical discriminatory laws.
Tackling domestic abuse
The Caledonian System has been successfully rehabilitating male perpetrators of domestic abuse in some parts of Scotland for a number of years.
Evidence from a recent evaluation of specialist court-mandated programme has shown that the men who complete the programme pose a lower risk to partners, children and others by the end of the programme. Women have also reported that they felt safer.
This week, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson confirmed that local authorities could bid for an additional £2.8 million to implement the programme in their area. He made the announcement in Edinburgh while viewing training for the programme being delivered to Edinburgh social workers. He said:
“Levels of domestic abuse remain at unacceptably high levels in Scotland. We know that the official statistics still do not paint the whole picture, as victims are often too afraid to report abuse. We also know domestic abuse disproportionately affects women, with men as the primary perpetrators.
“This funding will further strengthen our push to eradicate this scourge on society. Domestic abuse offenders need to understand the harm they cause and what they can do to change their behaviour.”
The Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) Bill passed its first hurdle in the Scottish Parliament this week as the chamber unanimously approved it in principle.
It will provide gay men convicted under historical discriminatory laws for acts that are now legal with an automatic pardon, and also enable men to have convictions those convictions removed from central criminal conviction records.
Mr Matheson said:
“I am under no illusions that this bill, or any other legislation, can itself right the massive injustice caused by these discriminatory laws that criminalised the act of loving another adult. However, the pardon will send a clear message to those who were affected by them that these laws were unjust. And through the establishment of a disregards scheme, we can ensure that people do not continue to suffer discrimination as a result of such convictions being disclosed to potential employers or when applying to be a volunteer.
“Scotland has come a long way in a relatively short period of time in progressing towards LGBTI equality but there is more to do. This bill complements the Scottish Government’s on-going work to tackle bullying, prejudice and discrimination and provide protections against bigotry and hatred.”
Victim Support Scotland (VSS) has been awarded £13.8 million over three years, part of which will provide for a new homicide service giving families of murder victims access to a dedicated case worker and continuous support.
Mr Matheson announced the funding on a visit to VSS in Edinburgh where he met the charity’s chief executive, Kate Wallace, and Bea Jones, founder of The Moira Fund and mother of Moira Jones who was murdered in Queens Park, Glasgow in 2008.
Welcoming the new service, Bea Jones said:
“This is an important step and one which will have a positive impact on many lives in Scotland. It will ensure more families will be helped than before, and that those families will get the right support, at the right time and from the right people. I’m pleased that in Moira’s name her charity has played a part in bringing about today’s news and that it enriches her legacy.”
On Wednesday evening, Minister for Community Safety Annabelle Ewing attended the Mark Scott Leadership for Life Awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of 170 of the country’s talented young people.
The Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award brings together S6 pupils from across the Scotland’s central belt and from different social, economic, religious and cultural backgrounds – working together to deliver projects that benefit their local communities.
Addressing the event, the Minister congratulated families, school champions, charity funders and organisers, as well as the young people themselves – before announcing £75,000 of further Scottish Government funding to support the Awards through to 2019.
She said: “What makes these awards especially valuable, in my view is that they are focussed on building communities as well as on empowering individuals. Firstly, the community projects themselves help to make local communities & neighbourhoods better places in which to live and interact.
“And secondly, the awards encourage greater understanding and tolerance by bringing together people from different backgrounds. The awards create bonds of friendship, co-operation and understanding which last a lifetime.”
You can read more reactions from Wednesday’s ceremony via the #MSLFL hashtag on Twitter – and learn about the project, run by the Outward Bound Trust, on the Award website.
Congratulations to all the young people who completed The Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award. In particular a massive well done to our very own Deklyn, Morgan and Jack – what an amazing achievement! @MSLFLAwardpic.twitter.com/iT7ekGgjTd
New measures to combat organised crime are now in force, meaning that betting slips, casino chips and gaming vouchers can now be seized by Police Scotland as if they were currency.
The provisions from the Criminal Finances Act 2017 also mean that items of value such as jewellery, watches, stamps and precious stones where they are suspected of being involved in illegal activity, can be searched for the same way as cash.
Michael Matheson said: “This is a significant step in ensuring criminals cannot profit from unlawful activities and gives our law enforcement agencies additional powers to seize assets acquired by illegal means.
“More than £6 million was recovered by the Crown Office and the Civil Recovery Unit in 2017/18. However, expanding the definition of what can be treated as cash and what our police officers can search for as they seek to disrupt criminal activity has the potential to further impact Scottish organised crime. There must be no respite in tackling organised crime and the harm it causes.”
In case you missed it
While Parliament was away for Easter recess, there was still plenty happening across Scotland’s justice system.
On Easter Monday the Justice Secretary announced that Migrant Help and TARA will share £3,113,352 over three years to increase the care they can provide to victims of human trafficking on the day that regulations to increase the minimum period of support for trafficking victims to 90 days came into force.
A consultation on a statutory appropriate adult service to assist vulnerable people in contact with the police was launched on the third of April. Michael Matheson highlighted the need for vulnerable people with communication needs to receive the support they require during police procedures as part of the launch.
Michael Matheson also met Police Scotland officers responsible for planning the operation around last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-finals. The force put significant resource in ensuring public safety and both games passed off without serious incident.
Key figures look back on the police and fire reform journey and its positive impact on community safety in Scotland – from tackling domestic abuse and counter-terrorism to protecting vulnerable individuals.
Derek Penman, former HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland
“As Police Scotland reaches its fifth anniversary, there is no doubt that some areas of policing have been enhanced and the single service is better placed than the legacy forces it replaced to tackle modern demands such as increased vulnerability and the threats presented by cybercrime and counter-terrorism.
“Whilst there are still challenges around sustainability, governance, localism and leadership, there are real opportunities to improve policing through better understanding demand and creating capacity to deal with the new and emerging threats to our communities.
“Over the last five years, HMICS has also adapted to the new policing landscape, driving improvement through its inspection programme, tackling significant issues and publishing 39 reports containing 308 recommendations to Police Scotland and the Scottish Policing Authority.”
Steve Torrie, former HM Chief Inspector of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
“Looking back on the reform exercise, I think mostly about the effort involved and the work put in by colleagues in the Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Government, and ministers.
“Then came the really hard bit – making it all work in the real world. It would, of course, be impossible to name-check the many people involved in that work but I can’t pass this by without saying that Ali Hay and Pat Watters were great appointments and worked incredibly well within their respective roles to ensure a successful once-in-a-generation change. Everything I now read about the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service leads me to believe that the Service is continuing to push forward in what were always going to be challenging times. So well done to all concerned – then and now.”
Mhairi McGowan, head of ASSIST and Domestic Abuse Services, Community Safety Glasgow
“The creation of Police Scotland has ensured the development of a common approach to domestic abuse across the country, something that had been lacking previously.
“For victims, this commitment to national consistency ensured a new confidence and it led to increased reporting of crimes in relation to both current and historic abuse.
“The adoption of a common risk assessment, the creation of a national Domestic Abuse Task Force and a tasking process to target perpetrators has secured the conviction of many serial abusers, increased the safety of victims and is the envy of others across the world.”
Kirsty Darwent, Chair, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
“I am proud to lead an organisation that has gone through a period of great change in bringing together eight legacies – and yet continued to protect communities across Scotland.
“There is no doubt whatsoever that this is due to the commitment and the professionalism of each person within our Fire Service family, and I would like to express my very sincere thanks to each and every one of them.”
“Since the inception of Police Scotland, the TARA Service has observed significantly improved awareness and responses to vulnerable victims of trafficking no matter where in Scotland women have been recovered.
“In particular the close partnership approach between The TARA Service and the National Human Trafficking Unit has resulted in improved coordination and sensitive operational responses to women across the Divisions. We are always striving to improve and are confident in continuing our shared commitment to learning from survivors experiences so we can better work together to prevent harm, protect vulnerable people and prosecute those who commit this crime.”
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