New data warns of four-year backlog in trials

The backlog in trials due to the coronavirus pandemic will not be cleared until 2025, according to new analysis.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has announced plans to expand remote jury centres and create additional courts from this September as part of a court recovery programme to deal with the backlog.

There will be four additional high courts, two additional sheriff courts for solemn cases and up to 10 more sheriff courts for summary cases.

With these extra resources, SCTS said it predicts the backlog of high court and sheriff solemn cases will be cleared by 2025 and summary trial backlogs will be dealt with by 2024.

The Criminal Justice Board is developing a programme to help Scotland’s justice system recover and transform in the wake of the extensive disruption caused by the pandemic.

Eric Mcqueen, SCTS chief executive, said: “The recovery proposals were recently discussed at a roundtable meeting involving the Criminal Justice Board, the legal profession, the third sector and members of the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee, who brought collective insight into the challenges faced by the justice system.

“Collaboration across the whole justice system has already returned both the high court and sheriff court jury trials to pre-covid capacity, which is an incredible achievement.

“As lockdown restrictions ease, our attention is focused on returning summary criminal business to pre-covid levels and tackling the backlogs across all courts which impacts on complainers, witnesses and the accused.”