Key considerations when discussing anonymity
1. Please share any thoughts you have on how the media currently reports on child homicides.
Please give us your views
Sadly the U.K. media seems to have very little respect for bereaved families and leans towards dreadfully insensitive
When social workers are involved they are too often demonised with no facts
When social workers are involved they are too often demonised with no facts
2. Please share any thoughts you have on any action that could be taken to amend the current position on media reporting of child homicides.
Please give us your views
They could simply follow the UNICEF guideance
3. To what extent do you think an extension of anonymity to deceased child victims would affect family and friends wanting to talk publicly about their loss?
Please give us your views
I think the only people who can answer this are those who have been impacted by it. Some feel comfort in talking publicly whilst others most certainly don’t
Role of reporting in criminal investigations
4. Do you consider that an extension to anonymity would have an impact on the ability of the police to investigate a crime?
Please provide details
No because they already deal with cases that include anonymity
Freedom of expression
5. Do you consider that an extension to anonymity would have an impact on freedom of expression?
Please provide details.
Only for those who revel in the misery of others
Open justice
6. Do you consider that an extension to anonymity would have an impact on open justice?
Please provide details
Yes it would but in cases where it is not a parent therefore impacting jigsaw identification the bereaved family should make the decision
Non-legislative options
7. To what extent do you agree that a media toolkit could support journalists and editors to report on child homicides in a trauma-informed way?
Please select one item
Radio button:
Ticked
Strongly agree
Radio button:
Unticked
Agree
Radio button:
Unticked
Neither agree or disagree
Radio button:
Unticked
Disagree
Radio button:
Unticked
Strongly disagree
Please give reasons for your answer
The media in the U.K. is disgraceful and quite honestly embarrassing
8. What should such a toolkit cover?
Please give us your views
Respect
Dignity
Privacy etc
Please see the UNICEF guidelines which are excellent https://www.unicef.org/eca/media/ethical-guidelines
Dignity
Privacy etc
Please see the UNICEF guidelines which are excellent https://www.unicef.org/eca/media/ethical-guidelines
9. Are there any other non-legislative means of improving how child homicides are reported and information published?
Please give us your views
A binding code of conduct for journalists including the tabloid hacks. If it is broken then significant fines must be imposed
10 . To what extent do you agree that the Scottish Government should work with the criminal justice agencies to explore non-legislative options to help reduce the trauma of reporting on bereaved families of child homicide victims?
Please select one item
Radio button:
Ticked
Strongly agree
Radio button:
Unticked
Agree
Radio button:
Unticked
Neither agree or disagree
Radio button:
Unticked
Disagree
Radio button:
Unticked
Strongly disagree
Start point for anonymity
11. If anonymity for deceased child victims was introduced, at what point do you think it should start?
Please select one item
Radio button:
Ticked
From the point of a child's death (when it is established criminality is involved)
Radio button:
Unticked
From the start of criminal proceedings
Radio button:
Unticked
Other - please provide details below
Waiver
12. If anonymity is automatic, how should a waiver process operate?
Please select one item
Radio button:
Unticked
Family members must apply to court to waive anonymity
Radio button:
Unticked
Family members are allowed to waive anonymity without requiring a court order and all restrictions fall when anonymity is waived
Radio button:
Ticked
Family members are allowed to waive anonymity without requiring a court order but restrictions do not fall when they do so and those wishing to publish identifying information must seek permission from the family before doing so
Radio button:
Unticked
Other – please provide details below
Enforcement and penalties
14. What do you think are the main challenges to enforcing anonymity restrictions?
Please give us your views
Social media and intrusive journalism
15. To what extent do you think it is important that the wider public understand anonymity provisions?
Please give us your views
Very
16. What can be done to increase public understanding of anonymity provisions?
Please give us your views
Public awareness campaigns
17. What group of people do you think it would be hardest to educate about anonymity provisions?
Please give us your views
Facebook users
19. What do you think would be an appropriate penalty for breaching an anonymity restriction?
Please give us your views
£1000 fine for individuals. £100,000 for media
Cross-border application
20. To what extent do you agree that any extension of anonymity to deceased child victims in Scotland would need to apply to the rest of the UK to be effective?
Please select one item
Radio button:
Unticked
Strongly agree
Radio button:
Unticked
Agree
Radio button:
Ticked
Neither agree or disagree
Radio button:
Unticked
Disagree
Radio button:
Unticked
Strongly disagree
Final questions and additional comments
21. To what extent do you support the options discussed in this paper?
| No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Strongly agree Radio button: Not checked Strongly agree | No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Agree Radio button: Not checked Agree | No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Neither agree nor disagree Radio button: Not checked Neither agree nor disagree | No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Disagree Radio button: Checked Disagree | No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Strongly disagree Radio button: Not checked Strongly disagree |
| Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Strongly agree Radio button: Not checked Strongly agree | Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Agree Radio button: Not checked Agree | Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Neither agree nor disagree Radio button: Not checked Neither agree nor disagree | Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Disagree Radio button: Checked Disagree | Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Strongly disagree Radio button: Not checked Strongly disagree |
| Automatic anonymity with option to waive Strongly agree Radio button: Checked Strongly agree | Automatic anonymity with option to waive Agree Radio button: Not checked Agree | Automatic anonymity with option to waive Neither agree nor disagree Radio button: Not checked Neither agree nor disagree | Automatic anonymity with option to waive Disagree Radio button: Not checked Disagree | Automatic anonymity with option to waive Strongly disagree Radio button: Not checked Strongly disagree |
| No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (with the potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Strongly agree Radio button: Not checked Strongly agree | No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (with the potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Agree Radio button: Checked Agree | No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (with the potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Neither agree nor disagree Radio button: Not checked Neither agree nor disagree | No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (with the potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Disagree Radio button: Not checked Disagree | No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (with the potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Strongly disagree Radio button: Not checked Strongly disagree |
22. To what extent do you think that the legislative options proposed are proportionate and enforceable?
| No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Strongly agree Radio button: Not checked Strongly agree | No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Agree Radio button: Not checked Agree | No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Neither agree or disagree Radio button: Not checked Neither agree or disagree | No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Disagree Radio button: Checked Disagree | No anonymity restrictions (i.e. the status quo) but with non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit Strongly disagree Radio button: Not checked Strongly disagree |
| Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Strongly agree Radio button: Not checked Strongly agree | Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Agree Radio button: Not checked Agree | Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Neither agree or disagree Radio button: Checked Neither agree or disagree | Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Disagree Radio button: Not checked Disagree | Full anonymity restrictions (no waiver) Strongly disagree Radio button: Not checked Strongly disagree |
| Automatic anonymity with option to waive Strongly agree Radio button: Not checked Strongly agree | Automatic anonymity with option to waive Agree Radio button: Checked Agree | Automatic anonymity with option to waive Neither agree or disagree Radio button: Not checked Neither agree or disagree | Automatic anonymity with option to waive Disagree Radio button: Not checked Disagree | Automatic anonymity with option to waive Strongly disagree Radio button: Not checked Strongly disagree |
| No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (and potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Strongly agree Radio button: Not checked Strongly agree | No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (and potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Agree Radio button: Not checked Agree | No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (and potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Neither agree or disagree Radio button: Checked Neither agree or disagree | No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (and potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Disagree Radio button: Not checked Disagree | No automatic anonymity but can apply for court order (and potential for non-legislative actions, such as a media toolkit) Strongly disagree Radio button: Not checked Strongly disagree |
About you
Are you responding as an individual or an organisation?
Please select one item
(Required)
Radio button:
Ticked
Individual
Radio button:
Unticked
Organisation