Highland MSP slams plans for court closures
A Highlands and Islands Labour MSP has hit out at plans revealed by the Scottish Court service which indicate that there are plans to close 10 of the country’s Sheriff Courts and seven JP Courts.
The courts which could be affected in the region are Dingwall and Dornoch.
Mr David Stewart said: "This is a very short sighted plan. Logic will lead you to understand that on one hand the Government may save money by closing a Court building, but they will not have made any real savings, because victims and other witnesses will have to travel further and longer to attend court, so there will be a dramatic rise in incidental expense claims by such people.
"Attending court is a daunting experience at any time, but making vulnerable victims and witnesses, travel much greater distances than they already have to is ludicrous.
"This is not to mention increased costs for the extra distance accused persons will have to be escorted. here will also be associated knock on costs to the police service where officers need to appear as witnesses – it will mean higher costs and less bobbies on the beat.
"I note in the report that they acknowledge that there will be ‘additional travel and inconvenience to some’.
"The Government need to have a rethink of this plan, carry out a proper consultation exercise and apply common sense and logic to such plans before they implement them."
