Grampian pilot could be model scheme
12 Oct 05
Fast-track scheme at Aberdeen Sheriff Court could cut summary criminal waiting times elsewhere
A pilot project at Aberdeen Sheriff Court that has seen the length of time it takes for cases to get to court reduced from 247 days to 35 is being cited as a model to combat increasing delays in other courts in the region, and perhaps across Scotland.
The project (see news item, 4 October 2005, http://www.journalonline.co.uk/news/1002308.aspx) piloted by Grampian Police for summary cases was introduced in March. Its success contrasts with figures released yesterday which show that the average length of time for cases to get to court in Aberdeen rose from 19 weeks in 2000-2001 to 25 weeks in 2004. Elsewhere in Grampian, the time lag at Banff increased from 14 to 24 and in Elgin from 13 weeks to 20. Only in Peterhead did the figure reduce, from 18 weeks to 14.
Grampian Police has not yet said whether it will be extending the scheme, which enables officers to work with procurators fiscal on cases as soon as they have evidence for a charge, to the rest of the force area. Local SNP and Conservative MSPs have hailed its success in reducing timescales.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Executive called the Grampian pilot an excellent example of joint local working and that the experience would assist in planning for change. The Executive is shortly to introduce its own bill to streamline summary criminal procedure.