Kate Wallace

In a letter signed by 65 people and released by Victim Support Scotland (VSS), signatories call on the government automatically grant anonymity to child victims.

Under Scots law as it stands, children who have died as a result of crime and who are under the age of 18 lose their right to anonymity. This can cause significant trauma for families during criminal trials, with excessive detail published about the crime often including sexual elements.

The change in legislation to protect the identity of children who have died has been lodged by Ruth Maguire MSP to be considered by the Education and Young People Committee at Scottish Parliament, which is leading on the Children (Care and Justice) Bill. The stage 2 debate will take place on Thursday.

Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, said: “People affected by crime consistently tell us about the impact on them and their children and the volume of detailed information available publicly following the death of a family member.

“We firmly believe that victims under the age of 18 who die as a result of crime should be given the same rights and protections as a living victim under the age of 18 who is the victim of another crime, for example sexual abuse or assault.

“Surviving siblings of these victims have a right to a childhood. They have a right to a private, family life. We are calling on the Scottish government to do better by affording an automatic right to anonymity to children and young people who die as a result of a crime, so that their surviving siblings can live their lives free of unnecessary intrusion.

“I urge the Humza Yousaf, Angela Constance and the Scottish government to take action, listen to families who have lost loved ones to murder, and offer better protection to all children connected to these cases.”