Chamber and committees

I suppose that, in such situations where there are competing wishes and balances to be struck, it might be helpful to go back to the principle of what we can do to ensure that families are not retraumatised. If the Government is not going to consider amendments in this respect, can you tell us whether any additional action can be taken or anything done to reduce retraumatisation as a result of media coverage?

I hear what you are saying about behaviours needing to be managed by secure care centres. I would reflect that the committee’s concern might be that we do not bake into law a situation that exacerbates harm or inequality. Willie Rennie gave an example of young women being placed in secure care on welfare grounds and then male children being put in there who have caused sexual harm. That is not something that should be managed by a centre. We must be careful that we are not legislating to exacerbate such a scenario.

I apologise, minister, but I will have to come back in on this. I accept everything that you are saying, but can we imagine that a victim of sexual abuse or domestic violence who is in a secure unit on welfare grounds is in a therapeutic environment for recovery if she is in there with perpetrators of those crimes? They are crimes—or harms, if that is what we want to call them.

I gave you the example of Chloe. She was 14 and the boy who harmed her was 16. Is it right that they would be in the same place if she needed to be there on welfare grounds?

I think that a colleague is going to ask specifically about information sharing.

Thank you.

I realise that we are tight for time. Would you be able to send those international examples to the committee in writing?

The bill that we are looking at is about children’s rights and, when we talk about victims’ families, those families include children.

Thank you. That was helpful. Dr Scott, do you want to say anything?

Thank you. That is helpful.

Does Victim Support Scotland have any suggestions for amendments that could be lodged?