Rise in FAI completion times is branded ‘insult to families’ by Tories

A rise in completion times for fatal accident inquiries (FAIS) is "unacceptable", the Scottish Conservatives have said.

A written response from a minister to Tory MSP Jamie Greene said the average length of time between the date of death and the end of an FAI is currently 1,067 days.

This is based on when evidence is finished in the FAI, rather than when the sheriff 's determination is issued.

The Tories said this is an increase of 128 days on the average time recorded to complete inquiries in 2020-21.

In his response, Justice Secretary Keith Brown noted the impact of the pandemic on court proceedings.

Mr Greene is proposing a member's bill at Holyrood which would bring in a variety of rights for victims as well as statutory time limits for FAIS.

He said: "The latest increase in the completion time for fatal accidentinquiriesiscompletely unacceptable.

"For inquiries to be taking just shy of three years on average to complete is outrageous and an insult to victims' families.

"The revelation from the startling response I received from the SNP Justice Secretary that oneinquirythatwasconcluded lastyeartooknineyearstocomplete is scarcely believable.

"These long, drawn-out inquiries cannot continue any longer. That is why I am pressing ahead with my plans to introduceastatutorytimelimit forinquiriestocompleteaspart of my Victims Law."

A spokesman for the Crown Office said: "COPFS has taken action to improve our death investigation work and reduce the time it takes for cases to be completed.”