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A plan to replace local children’s panels with a single national body has been backed by a Holyrood committee.
However, MSPs expressed several concerns including the problem of children carrying a criminal record into adult life.
In their report into the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Bill, members of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee agreed the system had to be modernised.
The new legislation is aimed at strengthening the 40-year-old children’s hearing system. While the current system has individual local authority panels, the Bill proposes a national body called Children’s Hearings Scotland, though hearings would still take place in communities.
Committee convener Karen Whitefield said: “We agreed to support the general principles of the Bill, although there were concerns that much would depend on the views of whoever is appointed as the national convener.
“Our main concern is to ensure the strengths of the children’s hearing system are bolstered and decisions continue to be made in the best interests of the child.”
Source: The Herald