Criminal court recovery update

Criminal court recovery update

Last month the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service announced plans to commence a court recovery programme from September 2021, which will include the expansion of remote jury centres and a daily increase of:

  • Four additional High Courts;
  • Two additional Sheriff Solemn Courts;
  • Up to 10 Sheriff Summary Courts.

While planning is still at an early stage, it is proposed that, in addition to existing locations, the High Court will sit in Airdrie, Dundee, Inverness and Stirling, with additional Sheriff Solemn courts sitting in Dumfries and Dunfermline.

Up to 10 summary trial courts will be allocated across the sheriff courts, based on the level of backlog cases and safe court capacity.   

Over the coming months, SCTS will be working with justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector to prepare for the recovery programme, which will be dependent on continued progress on vaccination and Covid transmission rates.

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