Justice Secretary Angela Constance has launched a consultation to gather opinions on how to reduce the trauma experienced by bereaved families of child homicide victims, particularly due to media and social media coverage. The consultation, which remains open for responses until next month, explores several potential measures, including whether the law should be changed to grant anonymity to child victims of homicide, shielding their identities and, by extension, protecting their families from public exposure.

The feedback from this consultation, along with input from bereaved families, victim support organisations, media representatives, and justice professionals, will help shape future policies.

Ms. Constance highlighted the extreme agony families face after losing a child, which can be worsened by intense public and media attention. “While such cases are rare, families have shared with me just how devastating sustained scrutiny can be,” she said.

 She emphasised the need to consider how to shield grieving families from further trauma while respecting the principles of open justice and free speech. She acknowledged that these are complex issues, and the consultation offers a chance for a broad range of perspectives on this sensitive matter.