Courts: a case for the defence

ITHAS stood since 1871 and is undoubtedly deserving of its reputation as a handsome building.

However, Forfar’s sheriff court house has been tagged with the worrying phrase “possible closure” along with Cupar in a Scottish Courts Service (SCS) discussion document.

The SCS are facing a monumental challenge to reshape services against the background of an operating budget they say will see a real terms reduction of 20% by 2014. The service shed 120 staff in 2011 but still faces the prospect of finding savings of £2 million or more in 2014/15. The status quo is, therefore, not an option. That is why a discussion document on the future shape of Scotland’s courts has been drawn up and communities in Fife and Angus – led this time by the legal fraternity – are once again preparing to rally against another potential threat to local services.

SCS say nothing has been decided and campaigners must take that as their cue to fight for the retention of these important local facilities.

In the illustrative scenario of how changes could translate into a revised court structure, Dundee would pick up the business of both Forfar and Cupar, both having failed a population and distance tipping point test.

It is true that in this modern age, the challenge of getting from Fife orangus to Dundee is far removed from that which would have been faced by the solicitors, police, accused and witnesses who first appeared before Sheriff Robertson at Forfar after February 2, 1871.

But the jurisdiction of these two facilities extends well beyond the burgh boundaries – a trip from theangus glens would be a different proposition.

Especially if it was the trip of an anxious victim due to give evidence in the trial of their alleged assailant sitting two seats behind them on the same public bus service.