SCCRC says system "robust" as cases hit record

Applications alleging miscarriages of justice at an all-time high

News, 10 February 2006

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The chief executive of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has described Scotland's justice system as "robust", despite a record number of applications against alleged miscarriages of justice.

Since 1 April 2005, the SCCRC has received 131 applications, the highest number since it came into being in 1999. The figure is 13 more than the full year 2004-05.

Chief executive Gerry Sinclair said the rise in applications was due to "increased public awareness" of the Commission's existence, and the vast majority were based on new evidence.

On average the Commission refers about 8% of cases received to the appeal court. Of those so far referred since the Commission began work in 1999, 12 appeals were successful, eight were unsuccessful, 12 have not yet been determined and one was abandoned.

Mr Sinclair said that 12 cases out of 300,000 prosecutions a year did not strike him as a high number and indicated the justice system was robust.

John McManus of the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation said the increase in applications was not a sign of a robust system. He said that there had never been an inquiry or investigation into what happened in any of the high profile cases in Scotland, and called for "action and accountability".

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