Dingwall court should replace Inverness, not vice versa says MSP

CONTROVERSIAL plans to scrap the sheriff court in Dingwall should be scrapped in favour of building a brand new state-of-the-art facility in the town.

That’s the view of SNP MSP Dave Thompson who has branded the proposals to axe the court in Dingwall as “extremely concerning” - and offered a robust counter argument to suggestions of a flit from Dingwall to Inverness.

While MSPs have already raised concerns over the prospect of Dingwall Sheriff Court being axed, the proposals now out for consultation see a rosier future for Tain, which would be reprieved in favour of the nearby facility at Dornoch.

The Scottish Court Services’ 104-page consultation document envisages a major rationalisation of services across the country.

If they get rubber-stamped, the proposals would be introduced in phases withcourt services at Dornoch moving to Tain as early as next year and Dingwall’s workload being swallowed up by Inverness in 2014/15.

Advance speculation over the document, "Shaping Scotland’s Court Services", has been the talk of legal circles for months.

The report states: “We are satisfied that the business of Cupar, Dingwall, Stonehaven and Haddington could be accommodated satisfactorily, and without detriment to existing waiting periods, in the sheriff courts at Dundee, Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh respectively.

"Our proposal therefore is that the sheriff courts and justice of the peace courts at Alloa, Cupar, Dingwall, Arbroath, Haddington and Stonehaven be closed and the business transferred into the neighbouring sheriff court districts of Stirling/Falkirk, Forfar, Inverness, Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen respectively.

"While we recognise that some court users may have a different journey to make to access court services than they do at present, and for some this might be a longer journey, the facilities available to them at the larger court centres will be superior, in some case far superior, to those experienced at the previous courts. And in the larger centres there will be more ready access to the supporting services now available to those attending court."

SNP MSP Dave Thompson, whose Highland constituency includes Dingwall and the Black Isle, welcomed publication of the report but took strong issue with certain aspects of it.

He said, “Given the Scottish Government commitment to policing and maintaining police numbers, recorded crime is at a 32-year low.

“This has had the desirable result, as the consultation refers, of reducing the volume of work in the courts, and it is therefore right at this time of UK financial constraint to consider the future court structure.

“However, I am extremely concerned by the proposal to close Dingwall Sheriff Court, and also the proposal to end High Court Circuit attendance at Inverness.

“My personal opinion, and I will be responding to the consultation, is that the future of Inverness Sheriff court, sitting in the relatively cramped Inverness Castle should also be reviewed.

“The consultation makes mention of the need for proper separation of court participants and this is just as problematic at Inverness as it is at Dingwall Sheriff courts.

“I propose that this consultation is an opportunity to build a new, fit for purpose, state of the art sherriff court in Dingwall, to replace both Dingwall and Inverness, where travel and communication links are every bit as good as in Inverness.

“This would have the benefit that the considerable asset of Inverness Castle, which is already an iconic part of Highland tourism, could be redeveloped to maximise this tourist potential.”

Ross MSP Rob Gibson urged caution on the proposals to reduce the number of court in use in the Highlands.

He said: “I will urge the Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill to tread carefully with court closures. The Government needs to measure the carbon footprint of forcing witnesses, victims and accused persons from extended travel especially in winter conditions. I believe that the SCS has to treat the Highlands and islands as a special case that could help other rural areas of Scotland.

“The need for fool-proof teleconferencing, the need to assess where it is best to keep court complexes and the distance issues all need attention.

“A robust case must be made to protect access to justice but the public should also be aware that crime is at a 32-year low and so services need to adapt to modern conditions which do not require those cited to attend court to travel huge distances to get justice.”

More on this story in next week’s Ross-shire Journal. What’s your view? Would you welcome sheriff court business being moved away from Dingwall or should the town lobby to save it?

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.