Success of High Court reforms

Preliminary hearings lead to more pleading guilty earlier

News, 30 November 2005

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A total of 50,000 witnesses have been spared from unnecessary appearances, thanks to reforms of Scotland's High Courts.

The latest figures show that the number of postponed cases has dropped from 1,000 last year to 125 over the first six months since the reforms were implemented on 1 April this year.

Professor Anthony Busuttil, a forensic pathologist who regularly gives evidence, said the new system meant that everyone knew exactly what was happening and when it was going to happen. In addition, witnesses are now given more information.

Figures have revealed that half of those accused of crimes are now pleading guilty at an earlier stage - during the new system of preliminary hearings which decide if and when a case will go ahead.

Defence lawyer Paul McBride QC said the new system meant that victims, those accused and witnesses were all winners because of the new system, adding that the accused often received smaller sentences if they pled guilty at an earlier stage.

The chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, Norrie Flowers, said that if police officers were not in courts giving evidence, they were out fighting crime, which could only be a good thing all round.

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