‘JUSTICE for all’, that is the aim of our criminal justice system.

To achieve that involves weighing evidence up to ensure a fair decision is taken; it is why to be found guilty, the decision must be beyond reasonable doubt. The system must also be impartial so that whether you are a millionaire or a pauper, everyone receives the same treatment in front of the law.

Often in depictions of Lady Justice she is holding a set of scales to demonstrate the weighing of the two arguments for and against in a case. She is often shown as blindfolded to illustrate that impartiality.

However, far too often our criminal justice here in Scotland is too weighed against one side and blinded to that same side. That is against the victims of crime.

Far too often it is forgotten in our system that victims are 50 per cent in every crime’s equation, yet often their role and rights in the system do not amount to that. They are far too often missed out during key moments, for example sentencing and parole hearings.

I believe this is shown by a recent revelation that has come out about the Scottish Government’s Victim Notification Scheme, set up in 2008 and managed by the Scottish Prison Service for the Scottish Government.

The scheme is meant to provide information on those criminals placed in prison for a term of 18 months or more. If it worked properly, it could make a real difference to the victims of crime and their families by giving them closure and allowing them to know when someone is going to released so they can properly prepare themselves if need be. In some cases, they are also allowed to make written representations before a criminal is freed.

However, Victim Support Scotland has highlighted issues with the current system which stops it from working properly. For example, the current system is difficult to understand and administer. Also, victims are often asked to join the scheme at times that are not suitable, often when at their most traumatised.

Additionally under the current system, there are restrictions on which members of the family can apply in certain circumstances. This can put a burden on some victims which they should not have to put up with.

This adds up to only one in four using the system as it stands.

It is clear that the current system is contributing to that low uptake. That is why Victim Support Scotland are calling for it to be modernised so victims are better supported and I agree with them.

We need to do more in Scotland to support the victims of crime.