Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

VIA offers a service to victims and witnesses that may be vulnerable in crimes reported to the Procurator Fiscal (the Fiscal) which involve:

• domestic abuse
• hate crime (crimes committed because the offender thinks the victim is of a particular race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender or is disabled)
• sexual offences
• children
• crimes where any trial is likely to involve a jury

and to:

• the bereaved relatives in cases of deaths which may involve criminal proceedings, or where there is to be a Fatal Accident Inquiry or significant further inquiries.

• Witnesses or victims who may need additional support if, for example, English is not their first language, or they have learning difficulties.

The VIA service is optional.

If you fall within one of these categories, VIA staff will contact you. If you do not want to receive the VIA service or if you want to opt in or out at any time, just let VIA know.