A councillor has questioned whether local journalists should cover court cases on the grounds that it could traumatise offenders’ children. Shetland Islands Council member John Fraser has claimed local press reporting of crime creates a “stigma” for criminals whose details are published. Councillor Fraser, pictured, made the comments at a meeting of the authority’s intergration joint board, of which he is vice-chairman. His comments prompted the Shetland Times to run an online poll on whether the media should refrain from covering court stories to aid offenders’ rehabilitation.So far, 69pc of Times readers have voted against the idea. This can have a long lasting negative effect in an adverse childhood experience which is akin to trauma.”In a statement accompanying the councillor’s comments, the Times said: “Historically, The Shetland Times has tried to cover every court case that reaches a conclusion at Lerwick Sheriff Court, as the paper of record.
