Children 1st criticised the system following a Scottish Government report that outlined major gaps in the implementation of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004. The Act was designed to improve children's experiences of court.
The report, Turning up the Volume: The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004, found some children came face to face with the accused in court, received little information or support before giving evidence and experienced long delays before cases came to court.
Anne Houston, chief executive of Children 1st and chair of the campaign group Scottish Justice for Children, said children continue to be traumatised by their experience of giving evidence in court, with many not aware of the measures available to help them.
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