Sheriff courts 'under pressure' says spending watchdog

Glasgow Sheriff Court is Scotland's busiest, handling more than 11,500 cases in a year

Scotland's sheriff court system is coming under increasing pressure, a report has said.

More cases are going to trial, and they are taking longer to conclude, according to the spending watchdog, Audit Scotland.

Its report, commissioned to investigate whether the court system is working efficiently, said sheriffs are hearing more complex cases.

But it also pointed out that budget cuts were adding to the pressure.

The report said sheriff courts across Scotland heard more than 85,000 cases in 2014-15.

The total estimated cost of proceedings across the country was £203m.

Target times

The majority of these (77,080) were summary cases - less serious offences heard by a sheriff sitting alone.

The others (8,277) are termed solemn cases, which are heard by a jury.

The Scottish Courts Service (SCTS) and prosecutors have a target to conclude cases within 26 weeks, but the report said the average length of cases is rising, with more taking longer than the target period.

One reason is because of the increasing number of domestic abuse and sexual offences coming before the courts.

The report said: "Despite the relatively small numbers of sexual crimes compared to other crime types, the nature and complexity of these cases has increased pressure on the sheriff court system.

"Between 2010/11 and 2013/14, the number of people facing prosecution in the sheriff court decreased for all crimes, apart from sexual crimes and miscellaneous offences such as common assault.

"The reporting and prosecution of sexual crimes has increased by 80% between 2010/11 and 2013/14."

It said that was because of increasing confidence among victims about reporting sexual crimes, greater media and public awareness and a focus on these offences across the criminal justice system.

But Audit Scotland also said public spending cuts were putting pressure on the sheriff court system.

Lochmaddy Sheriff Court handled fewer than one case a week

The overall budget of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) fell by 12% in the three years from 2010, while the (SCS) experienced a drop of 17%.

Caroline Gardner, Auditor General for Scotland, said all of the agencies involved in the courts system must continue to work closely together to maintain efficiency.

She said: "Scotland's sheriff courts are an important part of our justice system, experienced by thousands of people, including victims and witnesses, every year.

"Like many parts of the public sector, the sheriff court system is facing falling budgets.

"Together with an increasing focus on cases which are more complex, this is putting pressure on the system as a whole."

'Critical of delays'

Audit Scotland also commissioned a survey of the views of victims of crime, witnesses and offenders following their experiences of the sheriff courts in Scotland.

Many were critical about delays in the court process.

"I had forgotten all about being a witness - I thought they'd cited the wrong person," said one person surveyed.

An offender interviewed by the researchers said: "You're worried about things - your family - there's stress.

"And if you're working, you're messing your employer about and taking days off."

The Scottish government said funding reductions to the justice agencies followed overall cuts imposed by the Westminster government.

But a spokesman said: "In 2014/15 we provided £1.47m in additional funding for extra fiscals, court staff and judiciary, to help speed up the delivery of justice and this year we have committed £2.4m to ensure swift progress of cases involving domestic abuse and sexual violence."

The Audit Scotland report did not take into account recent closures of 10 sheriff and JP courts.

The Scottish Conservatives said it was clear from the report "that courts are under increasing pressure as a result of the SNP majority government's policies".

Access to justice

Spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said: "Things are only going to get worse as the full effects of the SNP court closure programme kicks in. This in turn raises serious access to justice issues.

"Instead of supporting our vital courts system, the decisions the SNP government has consciously made over recent years have done quite the opposite."

Scottish Labour spokesman Graeme Pearson said: "Having a court case dragged out longer than it absolutely has to be can be a hugely stressful experience. Obviously people working in courts are doing the best they can but they are not helped by the SNP government in Edinburgh's decision to shut down local courts and slash budgets."

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service welcomed the report.

A spokesman said: "We are fully committed to playing our part in implementing its recommendations to ensure that together we continue to provide an effective justice system for the people of Scotland."

Glasgow Sheriff Court is Scotland's busiest, handling 11,753 cases in 2014/14. Edinburgh dealt with 9,735, while the third busiest was Aberdeen with 5,311 cases.

By contrast Lochmaddy on North Uist, handled just 48 cases - less than one a week.