Vol. 11 2012 11 Vol.

Outreach Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service “Equality for All” Newsletter Outreach Outreach

Welcome to Outreach, the Crown Office addition to our other communication, and • suggestions for items for future and Procurator Fiscal editions

Service ‘Equality for All’ Contact: Ruth McQuaid, COPFS Diversity Champion - [email protected] newsletter

The aim of this newsletter is to inform communities across of the work of Crown Office and Procurator Our role Fiscal Service (COPFS) as we endeavour The role of COPFS is: to fulfil our commitment to equality and • to investigate, prosecute and disrupt diversity and to the implementation of crime the Equality Act 2010. • to seize the proceeds of crime • to investigate deaths that require We hope that you will find the newsletter explanation interesting, informative and provide you We work closely with our partners in the with an insight into COPFS as we work in criminal justice system to help make partnership with others to eradicate bigotry Scotland a safer place. and prejudice from Scotland. www.copfs.gov.uk This newsletter is a pilot which we are considering as a method of improving communication with communities. We are planning to issue it every 6 months and The Act would really appreciate your feedback on: The Equality Act 2010 Act introduced a new • this edition public sector general duty which became • whether you think it would be a useful law in Scotland and requires Scottish public authorities to pay “due regard” to:

Contents • eliminate discrimination, victimisation, harassment or other unlawful conduct that is Diversity 4 prohibited under the Act; Domestic Abuse 6 • advance equality of opportunity Hate Crime 7 between people who share a characteristic Working Together 10 and those who do not; Raising Awareness 11 • foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.

2 | November 2012 delivering our Equality Actobjectives. Federation. InApril2015 COPFS willhave to provide evidenceofwhat we have achieved in equality duties. Ruth (seated2ndfrom right) is the Deputy Head of the COPFSNorth project team(pictured below) which willdeliver avariety of projects to meetour statutory ‘Outreach’ is one of a numberof Equality Act 2010 activitiesby the COPFS. Our Commitment Our COPFS appointedRuth McQuaidin2011asourEquality Champion and she will oversee a November 2012 |3 November

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Diversity

Outstanding work

COPFS were named the top performing public sector organisation in Scotland and the 5th top Scottish employer in the Stonewall Top 100 Employer’s list. COPFS were named joint 71st which recognises our efforts to engage more with LGBT employees and the wider LGBT community. At the end of last year representatives from COPFS attended the annual Stonewall Workplace Conference. This gave them the opportunity to network with staff from both public and private sector organisations and also to gain insight into current LGBT issues in the workplace. The , Frank Mulholland QC, also met with Colin Macfarlane, the Director of Stonewall Scotland and members of the ‘PROUD in COPFS’ group who provided an update about their work with the LGBT community. We look forward to continuing to work with Colin Macfarlane and his team. The Lord Advocate said there was an excellent working relationship with Stonewall Scotland while the Director of Stonewall Scotland described the COPFS staff proudly show off their LGBT work being done by COPFS as “outstanding”. Stonewall award

COPFS Equality Champion, Ruth McQuaid, was interviewed by Alan Russell for Insight Radio, which is owned by the RNIB and broadcasts for blind and visually impaired listeners. Ruth answered questions on the history of COPFS and our role as Scotland’s only prosecution authority.

Listeners can tune into Insight Radio on 101FM in the area, on Freesat Channel 777 and Sky Digital Channel 0188

The Insight Radio website can be found at: http://www.insightradio.co.uk/

4 | November 2012 Stop the stigma solicitors from the local Council and sheriff clerks. In addition to staff from the PF office, the event was attended by defence solicitors, police, her mentalhealth condition and a local practitioner gave an outlineof mental health law. information on thecampaign. One of their volunteers spoke from personal experience about Faculty of Solicitors at the end of last year. Amember ofthe“SeeMe” campaign provided The COPFSSelkirkoffice co-hosted aMentalHealth Awareness sessionwiththe Local by displaying our Action Plan inallpublicareas of ouroffices across Scotland. problems. action plan to end the stigma and discrimination experienced by people withmental health me” pledge onbehalf of COPFS. problem. at sometimeintheirlives. Threequartersofusknow someone withamentalhealth fully fundedbythe . mental ill-health. Theyareanalliance of five mentalhealth organisations andare “see me”isScotland’s national campaignto endthestigmaanddiscrimination of For moreinformation on SeeMevisittheirwebsiteat: www.seemescotland.org Our “see me” Action Plan has been shared with all COPFS staff and our pledge made public Our “see me” Action Plan has been sharedwithall COPFS staff and our pledge madepublic COPFS iscommittedto working alongside the “see me” campaign, andhave agreedan Catherine Dyer who is the CrownAgentand Chief Executive ofCOPFS has signed the “see One infourof the general population ofScotland willexperience a mental healthproblem “see me” campaign me” “see the alongside working COPFS is committed to Crown Agent Director and CatherineDyer, Suzie Vestrie,SeeMe Campaign November 2012 |5 November

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Domestic Abuse Ending corroboration Specialist courts “An accused’s guilt should not founder on the basis Domestic abuse courts are currently of an antiquated technical being piloted in and Livingston. The specialist courts aim to requirement.”: Solicitor General improve the way in which allegations of domestic abuse are dealt with in the criminal justice system. Removing the requirement for corroboration in Scots law could help to At Edinburgh Sheriff Court specialist protect the rights of victims of domestic prosecutors, police liaison officers, advocacy abuse. Speaking at the Domestic Abuse workers and Sheriffs have come together to in Scotland conference in June this year, deal with all domestic abuse prosecutions for Solicitor General, Lesley Thomson QC, said the south and east of the city. prosecutors have a robust prosecution policy All domestic abuse offences from – but corroboration often proves a real December last year are being dealt with by obstacle in bringing domestic abuse cases this new multi-agency approach. to court. She said: “It is right that those The new specialist court will mean better accused of committing crimes are entitled provision for victims, who will be offered to a fair and just trial. But victims and support from specialist agencies with witnesses have rights too – rights which are expertise in domestic abuse. just as important…an accused’s guilt should In particular, Edinburgh Domestic Abuse not founder on the basis of an antiquated Court Service (EDDACS) will be available to technical requirement.” Corroboration is one assist female victims throughout the criminal of the areas of Scots law highlighted for process, while male victims will be offered potential reform by recent review of criminal support from ASSIST (Advocacy Support law and practice by Lord Carloway. Safety Information Services Together). The support workers will also act as a link to the police, prosecution and other services throughout the process. The pilot schemes will build on the success of specialist response models to domestic abuse already operating in Glasgow and Dunfermline. Across the country COPFS and other criminal justice stakeholders are working together to challenge domestic abuse by implementing the best practices identified in the Scottish Government Domestic Abuse Toolkit. The COPFS dedicated Victim Information and Advice Service continues to provide information to all victims of domestic abuse and signpost them to relevant agencies.

“specialist court will mean better provision for victims”

6 | November 2012 Improving service Improving challenges toovercome. against complacency as there were still the legal positionfor women butcautioned She spoke ofthemany improvements in International Women’s Day earlier thisyear. at the Engender conferencecelebrating Scotland asafeplacetolive. our partinworking towards making offences play andto ensuringthatwe victims of domestic abuseandsexual improve theserviceCOPFSprovides to QC renewedhercommitment to The Solicitor General,LesleyThomson She made the pledge to an audience She madethepledgeto an audience against violence to women and Campaigns 16 days of Action Staff across Argyll across Staff and Clyde supported the White Ribbon prepared newsletter astaff highlighting the campaign the highlighting Hate Crime Tackling prejudice brought tojustice.TheLord Advocate said: that peoplewhocommitthese crimes willbe and hatredthat exists insomequartersand working tochange the cultureof prejudice that boththe police and prosecutors are communications. the laws to prosecute threateningonline football matches as well extending address offensive behaviour atand around new legislationinMarchthis year to and coincidedwiththeintroductionof was ‘The Challenge of Tackling Prejudice’ transgender identity. relation to disability, sexual orientation and cover offences motivated by prejudice in aggravations for race and religion to 2009 which extended existing statutory (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act the second anniversary oftheOffences speech attheconference whichmarked conference on Hate Crime. Police jointlyhostedthe2012Biennial Constable of Lothian andBorders QC andSteveAllen,Deputy Chief The LordAdvocate, FrankMulholland crimes will be investigated carefully investigated carefully will be crimes “This will not happen overnight and we need the public to assist us by can have confidence that all such The conference sought to raise awareness The overall theme of the conference Roseanna Cunningham gave the keynote reporting all hate crimes. They and prosecuted robustly.” prosecuted and November 2012 |7 November

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Tackling prejudice (continued)

Deputy Chief Constable Allen added “There are too many occasions when people are targeted because they are different, whether by race, faith, disability, gender or any other characteristic. We are determined to work alongside colleagues in the criminal justice system to do all in our power to prevent these crimes and to bring those who commit them to justice.” Schoolchildren from Bellshill Academy and Cardinal Newman High School also attended to present a preview of a DVD which they have made on anti-sectarian crimes.

Steve Allen, Deputy Chief Constable, Lothian & Borders Police, Ruth McQuaid, COPFS Equality Champion and The Lord Advocate with teachers and pupils from Bellshill Academy and Cardinal Newman High School

Them and Us

Sectarian violence, arson, murder and imprisonment are featured in a new hard hitting film created by North Lanarkshire secondary school pupils to help expel hate crime from Scottish culture. The five minute film ‘Them and Us’ was launched in June by First Minister and the Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC. The educational film was the culmination of a challenge to pupils from Bellshill Academy and Cardinal Newman High School set by the COPFS Equality Champion (and former Bellshill Academy pupil) Ruth McQuaid, following her presentation to them on hate crime. The Lord Advocate took a personal interest at the early production stage and met with the pupils and teachers from both schools to encourage and thank them for their ongoing work. He also took the opportunity to speak to them about his desire to eradicate sectarian behaviour in Scotland.

8 | November 2012 competition winners. pupils from Hyndland Secondary School, the Solicitor General, Lesley Thomson QCwith debate Inspiring for both schools and hadhelpedtobuildbridgeswithinthelocal community. free time.TheHeadTeachers agreed that the projecthad been a positive learningexperience The 5thand6thyear pupils worked together drafting the script,and performing, in their own and is subsequently imprisoned for murder. girlfriend. Hesetsfire tothe doorofa house, not realisingthat there areoccupantsinside The storylineisa boy beingputunderpeerpressureto avenge a sectarian attack onhis The powerfulfilm highlightsthe very seriousconsequences of engaginginhatecrime. knowledge and maturity, hasbeen inspiring for all of us.” exceptionally high. To seeyoung peoplespeakingon such important issues withpassion, humiliation, harassment orabuse,based on whotheyare. can ensurethat future generations understandthey have a right to live without fear of Academy. win against strong competition from Springburn Academy, Drumchapel High and Shawlands involved 12 Glasgow schoolsover eight weeks. Hyndland Secondary securedawell deserved challenge commendably. tradition ofcompeting in public speakingor debating tournaments. Allinvolved rosetothe to engage young peoplefromacrossthecity, and inparticularschoolswhichhave not had a this year. A competition to engageyoungpeople inthedebate on diversity washeldearlier “This competition has beena great success with the standardof the entrants being “By engaging withcommunities,and in particular involving theyouth oftoday, we Presenting the trophy tothewinners the SolicitorGeneral, LesleyThomsonQC,said: The topic this year was ‘Hate Crime, itscausesand how wecan tackle it’. Thecompetition The firstGlasgow SchoolsSpeaking Competition, sponsored by theCOPFS, was designed

competed in the final. Pupils fromsome of the 12 Glasgow schoolswho November 2012 |9 November

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Hate Crime

Inspiring performance

The Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC and our Equality Champion, Ruth McQuaid attended a performance of Divided City a musical play adapted from the award winning novel of the same title by Theresa Breslin. The novel explores religious tension in Glasgow through a story about two schoolboys, one a Rangers fan and the other a Celtic fan. The play was performed by schoolchildren from across Glasgow at the Citizens Theatre and was sponsored by Sense Over Sectarianism which is part of Glasgow City Council Education Services. Ruth McQuaid said: “It was really inspiring to watch the pupils tackle challenging subjects such as religious intolerance and sectarianism in such a unique way.”

Lesslie Young, Chief Working Executive of Epilepsy Scotland Together

Support and confidence

to police, prosecutors and judges on A number of organisations have teamed up the condition. We also want to formalise to form a working group to better support arrangements to make sure that details of those who have epilepsy and who come into those with the condition illness are recorded contact with the justice system including by the police and that information is passed accused, victims and witnesses, jurors to prosecutors so that the right decisions in and staff members. The group includes cases are made at the right time. representatives from COPFS, Epilepsy • COPFS staff in Argyll and Clyde Scotland, the police, the Judicial Studies organised a series of events during Hidden Committee and medical practitioners who Disability Awareness Week focussing on have expertise in the condition. The Group is issues such as epilepsy, autism, and mental chaired by Lesslie Young, Chief Executive of health. The aim of each of the events was Epilepsy Scotland and has the full support of to raise awareness amongst staff and to the Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC. provide an opportunity to ask questions of The aim of the group is to ensure that the guest speakers. those who have epilepsy have confidence • A member of Epilepsy Scotland that they will be treated appropriately delivered a talk to staff at the COPFS however they come into contact with the Lothian and Borders Area Training Day. Staff justice system. We are working on providing were shown videos of differing reactions full guidance on managing and supporting to epileptic episodes. The individuals people with epilepsy. Currently we are could have been mistakenly perceived as looking at the training which is provided

10 | November 2012 practice. in Londonon12Julyrecognitionof COPFS good Agent acceptedthecertificate which was presented diverse communities acrossScotland.TheCrown and how thatenablesour staff to engage with diversity training and equalitiesawareness sessions it places onensuringthat all staff receive regular be highly commended for the significantemphasis awards. Thejudgesconsidered that COPFSshould Employers Network for Equality andInclusion(enei) employee engagementcategory at thenational2012 COPFS was named as the UK runnerupinthe ENEI Awards ENEI Raising Awareness criminal justicesystemas anoffender, a victimor witness. prosecute and on the natureofsupport required for suchindividualswhentheyenterthe of the features ofcertainmedicalconditionswhenreaching decisions on whetheror not to and its effects. The session alsoactedas a valuable reminderthat staff need to beaware information to staff, and helpedto increase their knowledge aboutthis medical condition their behaviour was a directresultof their condition.Thepresentationprovided invaluable being under the influence of alcoholor drugsorof being arrogant orunhelpful while in fact COPFS events Scotland across from places on ensuring that all receive staff regular diversity training and “COPFS should be highly commended for the significant emphasis it equalities awareness sessions” awareness equalities November 2012 |11 November

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o Prosecutors in Ayrshire received practical training on Transgender issues from Dr Rona Simpson. This followed on o VIA staff in Edinburgh gave a from a recent prosecution which involved presentation to Victim Support volunteers Transgender issues in the Ayrshire area. in Edinburgh as part of their induction o Jennifer McGill, senior depute and training. This was followed up by a court visit head of the COPFS Dumfries and Galloway for Rape Crisis volunteers in the Borders. sexual offences unit provided training This allowed the volunteers to experience the sessions for secondary school teachers court environment and the level of support across Dumfries and Galloway on the provided to victims while giving evidence. subject of Respectful Relationships. Her o The Aberdeen Pride Event (below) presentations included information on hate took place at the Green, an historic area crimes, domestic abuse and sexual offences. near the City centre. The COPFS stall was a The work was undertaken as part of our focus of interest from members of the public. partnership working with the Dumfries and Our staff took the opportunity discuss our Galloway Domestic Abuse and Violence commitment to diversity and to talk about Against Women partnership. what that actually means to members of the o The COPFS Diversity team in the LGBT community in their dealing with COPFS. Lanarkshire area organised a Diversity Awareness Week which involved contributions from Strathclyde Police Diversity and Equality Unit, COPFS Victims and Witnesses Unit, Glasgow Old People’s Welfare Association and representatives from the National Health Service.

Coming Up

Catherine Dyer, Crown Agent; Azrah from Stirling Muslim Women’s Group; Anne Donaldson, We are planning to make use of our COPFS Procurator Fiscal for Initial Case Processing Twitter account to keep you updated on in the East of Scotland; Bushra Abdulghani, our Equality Act projects but you can join COPFS Equality Advisory Group member; Janet us now to find out more about other COPFS Cameron, Procurator Fiscal Lanarkshire and activities on: Twitter@copfs. Amina from North Lanarkshire Muslim Women and Family Alliance.

12 | November 2012 Editorial RuthMcQuaid should included be in future. the this pilot edition and of any information which you think And remember, we are really keen hear to your views on electronic or other format. like this publication in another language, audio, large print or in Please contact Nancy, at the above email address, if you would [email protected] Editor - Nancy Darroch November 2012 |13 November

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