Douglas Ross

The document, produced by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), said the Scottish government  “responded positively” to calls to write off about 210,000 hours, or 30 per cent of the total backlog of hours, The Times reports.

The document states: “Social Work Scotland (SWS) has estimated that the current backlog is approximately 700,000 hours of unpaid work.

“SWS state that some 450,000 hours will not be able to be serviced in any reasonable time frame. Cosla recommended to the Scottish government that they consider the SWS proposals believing that a reduction of around 30 per cent of unpaid work hours would be very helpful.

“The Scottish government responded positively and is intending to use powers under the Coronavirus Act to allow the proposed reductions.”

It adds: “The regulatory detail is still being worked and would apply the reductions generally except for certain categories of offences such as domestic abuse and sexual crime.”

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, said: “The huge number of unworked hours is extraordinary but behind these numbers are real people who face being cheated of justice. Victims will despair while criminals will rejoice. As a matter of urgency, the SNP justice secretary must explain what action he intends to take.

“If this is not dealt with, there is a real risk that sentencing will become little more than a meaningless sham and public confidence will be destroyed.”

A spokesman for the Scottish government said: “As regards community orders, the difficulties faced by justice social work in delivering these during the pandemic was acknowledged by the Scottish parliament through the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, which extended timescales for completion of unpaid work and created new powers enabling community orders to be postponed or varied if necessary.

“Following significant concerns raised by Social Work Scotland during the summer, the cabinet secretary for justice wrote to the justice committee to confirm that consideration was being given to whether these powers may need to be used, on a proportionate and limited basis, with regard to unpaid work.”