Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee with an update on the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 16 September 2025
Date : 09 December 2025
Location : online
Trauma-Informed Practice
Of most organisational significance to Police Scotland, Part 2 of the Act seeks to embed trauma-informed practice across the justice system (both criminal and civil).
S114 defines “trauma-informed practice” as a means of operating that:
(a) recognises that a person may have experienced trauma,
(b) understands the effects which trauma may have on the person, including how trauma may affect any evidence given by the person, and
(c) based on that understanding, involves adapting and implementing processes and practices to—
(i) seek to avoid, or minimise the risk of, exposing the person to any recurrence of past trauma or to further trauma,
(ii) seek to avoid, or minimise the risk of, negatively impacting the person’s recovery from trauma,
(iii) enable the person to participate effectively in court proceedings.
Part 2 of the Act amends the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 so that justice agencies must have regard to the principle of trauma-informed practice and mandates that standards of service are published by relevant agencies (including Police Scotland) setting out how this will be carried out.
Although timescales have yet to be confirmed, it is expected that Part 2 of the Act will be enacted during the first half of 2026. Standards of Service will need to be set no later than 18 months following enactment.
