Executive looking at bringing in Saturday courts
12 Jun 07
Increase in Friday night arrests putting strain on police resources
The Scottish Executive is considering the introduction of weekend court sittings to cope with the number of people arrested on a Friday night, according to today's Scotsman.
A steady increase in the number of arrests has led to a shortage of police cells and a growing cost of detaining people over the weekend. The worst affected areas are the four main cities. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is currently carrying out research into the numbers of people locked up at weekends to work out the cell shortage.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has asked civil servants to talk to sheriffs about the possibility of Saturday courts. Decisions about court sittings rest with the sheriff principles of each sheriffdom.
Saturday courts operate in parts of England and Wales and have been used in Scotland in the past.