A Lanarkshire MSP is urging residents to support proposals for a new ‘victims’ law’ which would answer grieving families’ calls to scrap the controversial ‘not proven’ verdict.
Tory MSP Meghan Gallacher's plea comes after party colleague Jamie Greene launched a member’s bill consultation to overhaul Scotland’s justice system and put victims of crime at the heart of it.
The move backs calls to abolish the controversial 'not proven' verdict, implementing Michelle’s Law to give victims a voice when criminals are considered for release and preventing the release of killers if they refuse to say where a victim’s body is buried.
Ms Gallacher said: “I applaud my colleague Jamie Greene for bringing forward these proposals.
“This Bill could make a huge difference for the lives of victims and families in Lanarkshire.
“This consultation can be the starting point for overhauling Scotland’s justice system and fixing many flaws that have caused a great deal of pain to victims of crime in Lanarkshire.
“The ‘victims’ law’ has many sensible proposals, guaranteeing victims will always be put first in our justice system.
“I urge any interested people in Lanarkshire to take part in the consultation as soon as possible and rally behind it.”
The proposals include abolishing the controversial Not Proven verdict; implementing Michelle’s Law to give victims a voice when criminals are considered for release; implementing Suzanne’s Law to prevent the release of killers if they refuse to say where a victim’s body is buried; giving all victims the opportunity to make statements in court; ensuring victims are always notified if no further action is taken on their case; reforming the victim notification scheme; and introducing statutory timescales for Fatal Accident Inquiries
To find out more about the consultation, head online.
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did yo u know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and share.
