Children's charities are concerned about protection for witnesses

They say the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill, which is making its way through the Scottish Parliament, does not offer enough protection.

Children 1st, Childline Scotland, and NCH Scotland believe child witnesses under the age of 16 should not be obliged to appear in court to give evidence.

The charities argue that child witnesses should be allowed to use an intermediary like a social worker or teacher.

Margaret McKay, chief executive of Children 1st, said no child witness under 16 should be obliged to appear in court to give evidence.

"We want to see a situation where no child as a witness ever goes into an adult court at all," she said.

"Children's evidence should be taken in a child-friendly environment, outwith a court room and relayed into the court."

It makes sense that there is one dedicated person with all the expertise on issues relevant to vulnerable witnesses Cathy Jamieson Justice Minister

Children 1st is holding a conference in Edinburgh on Friday to discuss its concerns.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson announced that a network of "vulnerable witness officers" will be established as part of an �850,000 project.

The officers' role will be to co-ordinate the work of all the organisations involved in working with children.

Ms Jamieson said the new unit would be involved in planning the implementation of the Vulnerable Witnesses Bill.

She said: "It will take forward the executive's commitment to appoint vulnerable witness officers, providing ongoing support to all the agencies who work within our justice system and who are committed to doing a better job for child witnesses and vulnerable witnesses.

"It makes sense that there is one dedicated person with all the expertise on issues relevant to vulnerable witnesses.

"It would only cause confusion if one officer had to be consulted about the issues of the child being a witness, then another about the issue of learning difficulties."

'Better evidence'

Victim Support Scotland deals with more than 6,000 child witnesses a year.

Director of operations Neil Paterson said passing new laws may not be enough.

"We need to move to a culture whereby people giving evidence by special measures is actually more the norm than it is at present," said Mr Paterson.

"That will be better quality evidence and it will actually improve the quality of justice because people will feel more able to tell the truth about what has happened to them."