The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Town’s police station could hear court cases
Move being considered after concerns over state of sheriff court grow
Court cases could be heard in Kirkcaldy police station amid concerns the town’s sheriff court is no longer fit for purpose.
The move is being considered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) with growing disquiet among sheriffs and solicitors about the current facilities, The Courier has learned.
It is understood police staff could relocate so the building could accommodate jury trials, although Police Scotland insists any decisions made about Kirkcaldy Police Station would not impact on policing levels.
The hope is to eventually create a new, state-of-the-art justice centre in Kirkcaldy which would serve the whole east of the region.
Kirkcaldy police station could soon house the town’s sheriff court amid concerns about the adequacy of the present building, The Courier has learned.
Calls for a new justice centre serving east Fife have increased as it emerged solicitors and sheriffs have expressed disquiet about the situation in Kirkcaldy, with many feeling the court is no longer fit for purpose.
Kirkcaldy’s Sheriff Court is said to be under severe strain, with the number of jury trials doubling in the past five years and adjournments due to lack of court time also increasing.
There has also been criticism of the building’s layout following claims witnesses and criminals have been allowed to pass each other on stairwells.
With little cash available to develop a bespoke justice centre similar to the £23 million building planned for Inverness, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has confirmed moving some officers out of Kirkcaldy’s central police station to accommodate jury trials is one option being examined.
A spokesman for the SCTS said there is “widespread support” for a justice centre in Kirkcaldy where a “need of improvement” was acknowledged.
They said: “In recognising that this is some way off and would require considerable funding, we continue to look at all potential options that may inform our plans to improve the quality of our services in the short term.
“The possibility of creating court facilities in Kirkcaldy police station is one of these options.”
However, the spokesman stressed the closure of Cupar Sheriff Court three years ago had not had a knock-on effect on Kirkcaldy.
“Following the closure of Cupar all business was transferred to Dundee, with no impact on Kirkcaldy,” the spokesman added.
Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, said the case for a justice centre in Kirkcaldy grows stronger every year.
She said: “The current building is no longer fit for purpose.
“As our justice system adapts to modern times, Kirkcaldy is still left with a building dealing with lack of space, poor equipment and the potential for witnesses and accused to pass each other in stairwells.”
Chief Inspector Adrian Annandale, local area commander for Kirkcaldy, said sharing facilities was being considered but stressed it would have “no impact on the level of local policing in the town”.
He said: “Police Scotland is assessing its estate to ensure buildings support modern operational policing and are fit for purpose.
“By making the best use of property we retain, we will be more efficient and will make better use of public funds.”
The current building is no longer fit for purpose. CLAIRE BAKER