 Children will no longer have to view suspects face-to-face |
Guidance has been published by the Scottish Executive to reduce the stress faced by children and other vulnerable witnesses attending identity parades. New technology, in use for six months, means they need not now come face-to-face with an accused person.
They can view a series of images on a CD-ROM, which can be taken to a neutral venue such as a school or community centre.
Ministers insisted the quality of evidence would be improved.
They said it would be better for the justice system and fairer for the accused.
 Virtual identity parades are used south of the border |
It is the final part of the executive's attempt to make giving evidence more comfortable for children and other vulnerable witnesses, such as rape victims.
Witnesses, instead of having to go to a police station and having direct sight of an accused person, can now view a series of electronic images.
Police have maintained it is much fairer because investigators no longer have to search local streets for similar-looking people.
The Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording system (Viper), developed by West Yorkshire Police, uses a national database of volunteers' images to compile the video line-up.
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