A NATIONWIDE report, released last week, suggests Scotland’s sheriff courts are coming under increasing pressure.

And the report, which covers 2010/11 to 2014/15, ahead of the closure of the county’s sheriff court, is further proof, according to East Lothian’s MSP, that the wrong decision was made in shutting Haddington Sheriff Court. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals has denied this and said more complex cases were putting pressure on prosecution through the sheriff court.

The Court Street building shut its doors at the end of January, despite substantial campaigning from the Courier and local politicians.

Iain Gray MSP said: “This report provides further evidence of just how ill-advised was the SNP Scottish Government’s decision to close Haddington and other sheriff courts across Scotland.

“It shows that even before the closure of seven of Scotland’s courts, sheriff courts were already facing huge pressures, resulting in longer waits for cases to be completed and delays for court users.

“It also demonstrates once again that far from being evidence-based policy, the decision to close our court in Haddington was made in spite of all the evidence showing it was a terrible idea.”

Mr Gray said Haddington Sheriff Court had served the county for centuries and its closure meant people were having to travel into Edinburgh for court business.

He added: “The findings of this report suggest that the situation will, in all likelihood, get worse.

“The new more centralised court system faces further budget cuts and constraints on capacity which will almost certainly mean more delays in accessing justice.”

‘Mistake’

Holyrood colleague Jim Hume felt the Scottish Government “made a mistake” in shutting East Lothian’s court and warned that Audit Scotland’s report demonstrated the growing pressure on services in coping with the additional cases.

The South of Scotland MSP added: “Even before Haddington court was finally closed, experts were warning that the additional burden of cases being heard at Edinburgh would slow up the time taken to complete cases.

“Indeed, when you look at Edinburgh Sheriff Court figures, it’s clear that cases are not being completed within the 26-week timeframe.”

A Scottish Courts and Tribunals spokesman said: “The Audit Scotland report clearly acknowledges that more complex cases are putting pressure on prosecution through the sheriff court.

“It recognises that, while fewer cases are concluding within the 26 weeks, there are more cases going to trial, with a greater proportion of more complex cases including domestic abuse and historic sexual offences.

“Some have associated the pressure on the court system with court closures. This is unfortunate as it is not correct.

“The SCTS has no doubt that in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, and in all other courts, the physical capacity exists to deal with business levels.

“The closures amount to less than five per cent of overall court business and did not result in any reduction in judiciary or court staff.

“Our business is demand driven and when demand changes we change our approach.

“Through funding from Scottish Government, additional judiciary, court and fiscal staff have been deployed to use the court capacity available.

“These resources would have been required even if no court had closed.”