Charity fears over victims’ face-to-face with abusers

Chief executive warns of pressure risk We want to make sure nobody feels under pressure to engage SANDY BRINDLEY RAPE CRISIS SCOTLAND

A RAPE charity has raised concerns about Scottish Government plans to give victims of sex crimes and domestic abuse the chance to meet their attackers.

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Justice Secretary Keith Brown said new restorative justice services will put “victims at the heart of the justice system”.

Two new hubs will allow those who have been harmed in the past to speak to their abusers about the impact the crime has had on them.

But Sandy Brindley, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, said the new scheme must not lead to women feeling pressured into confronting their attacker.

She said: “We want to make sure that nobody ever feels under any pressure to engage with this if it’s not the right thing for them.

“For people that do want it, we need to make sure there are safeguards in place. We have a real concern about sex offenders, who can be really manipulative.

“I think there’s some worry about the potential to use this process to cause more harm.”

The service is voluntary and relies on both the victim and perpetrator to consent to meet either face to face or virtually.

The offender must take responsibility and acknowledge what they did for the process to begin.

A national hub within Community Justice Scotland has been launched to play a strategic oversight role. It will also manage a pilot project before the service is rolled out in Scotland.

A Th r i v i n g Survivors hub is also being set up to provide a safe, trauma- informed service to victims of sexual harm.

Brown said: “Providing a national restorative justice service is consistent with our commitment to putting victims at the heart of the justice system.”

TRAUMA Victims of domestic abuse and sex crimes could soon be allowed to confront their attackers