Visitors told to follow rules to make courts safe from coronavirus

Scotland's most senior judge h a s u rg e d p e o p l e e n t e r i n g court buildings to follow coronavirus rules to ensure that the administration of justice can continue safely.

With mainland Scotland now in lockdown the Lord President, Lord Carloway, said he is determined to ensure that everything is done to keep courts and tribunals operating effectively and safely.

He said he is aware there been "lapses, perhaps inadvertent", by some of those coming to court, where people must wear face coverings when moving around the building and follow social distancing measures.

And he warned that he and judicial colleagues across the country will take any continued breaches "ver y seriously indeed".

Lord Carloway said: "In some instances we may need to reinforce the importance of respecting safety measures by highlighting to those breaching requirements that the court may regard any future breach and any repeated breach as constituting a contempt of court.

"I exp ect ever yone to take ever y step possible to ensure that they and their colleagues respect the measures intro - duced, to protect both themselves and others.

"Together we can keep the administration of justice going in a way that is effective, fair and safe for all."

He added: "As Scotland heads into a new period of tightened restrictions, I am determined to ensure that everything is done to keep our courts and tribunals operating effectively and safely."

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals S er vice (S CTS) s aid courts and tribunals will continue to operate business as currently scheduled, as it is an essential service.

The SCTS said that while the maj o r i t y o f p e o p l e a l r e a dy understand and comply with the measures, there have been rep or ts of p eople failing to wear face coverings, gathering in groups and failing to observe two metre physical distancing in courtrooms.

T h e s e r v i c e ' s c h i e f e x e c - u t i v e E r i c M c Q u e e n s a i d : "We r e a l i s e t h a t , ove r t i me, c o mpl a c e n c y a n d f a mi l i a ri t y h a s c r e p t i n a n d , d i s a p - p o i n t i n g l y, t h e r e r e m a i n s a s m a l l n u m b e r o f p e o p l e who believe the rules do not apply to them. This is a time for ever yone to be vigilant.

"We a r e r e n e w i n g a n d r e f r e s h in g o u r s i g n a g e a n d d i s t a n c i n g m a r k e r s , o u r a d v i s o r y i n f o r m a t i o n a n d asking ever yone to make the cour ts and tribunals as safe as possible for all.”