Time limits to be set on some Scottish court proceedings in bid to cut case backlog

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service says it will take the ‘unprecedented’ step of enforcing time limits on some hearings and removing the need for some prisoners to attend court in person, as backlog of cases spirals out of control

Time limits will be set on some court cases and remand prisoners will no longer have to attend some hearings in person in a bid to cut out-of-control court backlogs.

There have been significant delays in courtrooms in recent weeks across the country because contractor GeoAmey, which is responsible for escorting accused prisoners, is facing staffing shortages.

Jury trials have been unable to take place in the islands for the same reason, prompting Orkney MSP Liam McArthur to write to justice secretary Angela Constance demanding the Scottish Government do something about the impact.

Time limits will be set on some cases and remand prisoners won't have to attend their hearings in person in a bid to cut down the court case backlog.

This has led to some court proceedings running late into the night, with some lawyers saying this should be treated as a “national crisis”. On top of this, there is a huge backlog of cases caused by the Covid pandemic, which could take years to clear.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service now says it will take the “unprecedented” step of setting time limits on custody courts to avoid them sitting late in the evening. It has also removed the requirement of those on remand or those serving custodial sentences to attend procedural hearings in person.

The service says they hope this will allow GeoAmey to focus on other areas of its work and go some way to cutting the backlog of cases. It is still considering the option of holding virtual hearings.

Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar from the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin said: “The sheriffs principal have a statutory responsibility for the efficient disposal of business.

“The current difficulties are continuing to have a significant impact upon trial and custody courts throughout Scotland.

“The measures introduced are designed to enable GeoAmey to prioritise resources and acknowledge the need to safeguard the wellbeing of all those involved in custody courts.

“These measures are unprecedented and temporary short-term solutions to the current challenges faced by the courts.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said it is clear GeoAmey’s current performance is “not working” and is causing “disruption” to the courts, the prison service, and others.

They added: “We are working with partners to address the current issues and a series of practical steps are being taken to reduce the pressure on justice services including cutting the number of people travelling between prison, court and police custody.”

GeoAmey has also been approached for comment.