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“Sheriff slams ?second rate? fiscal service: Controversy the current standing of the fiscal service at Cupar Sheriff Court continued yesterday as it was claimed that the court was suffering from ?second rate delivery.? [. . .] As revealed by The Courier last Friday, fears have been expressed by the legal community in north-east Fife that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service could have a budget-led ?hidden agenda? to gradually erode Cupar court services and eventually justify the court?s closure. . .” Courier
“Lothian drive to help criminals beat drugs: A project aimed at slashing crime by targeting repeat offenders with drug problems is to be extended across the Lothians following a successful trial. The SACRO (Safeguarding Communities - Reducing Offending) Arrest Referral Service offers drug addicts who are due to appear in court the chance to meet with a staff member who can direct them to a range of services, including rehabilitation. . .” Evening News
“Scheme for offending drug users extended: More offenders with drug problems will be able to benefit from a new scheme encouraging them into treatment and rehabilitation. After a year long pilot in Edinburgh the Arrest Referral Service is being extended to deal with a greater number of cases . . .” Scottish TV
See also
SACRO. Link to press releases not up at time of posting.
“The right to roam ? free of charge: The freedom of access provisions within the forthcoming Land Reform Act have attracted less attention than the community right to buy. It takes circumstances such as those at Neist Point in Skye to highlight the need for them [. . .] In future council officials, who previously found themselves mired in dispute and technicalities, will be empowered to take down misleading signs and oblige the landowner to facilitate access ? at no charge whatsoever ? over wild land. They will also be enabled by law to remove phoney CCTVs. And not a moment too soon.” West Highland Free Press
See also
[url=http://www.scotland-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2003/20030002.htm]
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003[/url]
“Lock your doors say police: Householders are being warned to lock their doors after a series of thefts in Stromness . . .” Orcadian
Posted by MM on Fri 30th Apr 2004 at 2:15 pm“Grand plan is payoff for special constables” Press and Journal
“Scheme to enhance role of Special Constables:
Special Constables in Tayside and Grampian are to receive financial recognition for their services, as part of a scheme being piloted in these areas [. . .] Launched in Aberdeen this morning, the success of the new Recognition Award Scheme will determine whether or not it is implemented across Scotland. . .” Evening Telegraph
“Payment for special constables: Special constables in Scotland are to be paid for the first time. The reward scheme for the part-time officers amounts to ?1,000 annually after tax and is being piloted in Grampian and Tayside for 12 months. . .” BBC
“Special constables to be paid” Grampian TV
Press release
“Recognition award scheme for special constables: For the first time Special Constables from Grampian and Tayside will receive financial recognition for their services, as a part of a scheme which is being piloted in the two force areas in advance of a decision being made on whether it will be implemented across Scotland. Specials from these two Police Forces have the opportunity to participate in the scheme, which began on 1 April 2004, in return for committing to work an agreed number of duties in support of their full-time colleagues. . .” Tayside Police
See also
Grampian Police No link to story at time of posting.
Previous related stories in CjScotland (find by clicking date on calendar):
5.2.04: Police question pay for specials
15.3.04: Deployment of special constables on street beat
Posted by MM on Thu 29th Apr 2004 at 10:24 pmUpdate
“Parking attendants join DUNCAN: Dundee?s new parking attendants have become the latest group to join a city centre crime-busting scheme [. . .] The remit of the parking attendants will be to take advantage of their role in patrolling the streets of the city centre to watch out for crime and report it through the DUNCAN network. . .” Evening Telegraph
Following posted on 21.4.04.
“Dundee stores ban criminals: Stores across central Dundee have, for the first time, taken joint action to ban five of the city?s most persistent or dangerous retail criminals from their premises [. . .] Exclusion orders have been served on the regular offenders as part of the Scottish Executive-backed Dundee Co-ordinated Anti-Crime Network (DUNCAN).
The orders ban the five ? persistent thieves or, in one case, a criminal who had been violent towards shop staff ? from the more than 80 retail outlets which have already signed up. . .” Evening Telegraph
See also
Dundee City Council. Local Information tab: DUNCAN link at bottom right of next page.
Related entry for Glasgow posted on 20.1.04.
Posted by MM on Thu 29th Apr 2004 at 10:05 pmUpdate
“Ministers back down on trials ‘in absentia’: Ministers were yesterday forced to back down over plans to allow trials to take place in the absence of the accused, following fierce opposition from MSPs. . .” Scotsman
Press release
“High Court reform bill passes final hurdle: Legislation to reform the High Courts providing a better deal for victims, witnesses and jurors, was passed today by the Scottish Parliament . . .” [url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2004/04/SEJD445z.aspx]
Scot. Exec.[/url]
Following posted on 28.4.04
“Court reform should reduce pressure on High Courts: The Scottish Parliament is expected to pass a new law this afternoon that should speed up the prosecution of crime in the courts. . .” Scottish TV
“Major court shake-up expected” Grampian TV
“Court reform goes before Holyrood: Legislation to streamline the way Scotland’s courts operate is set to be passed by MSPs. The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill is designed to improve the experience of victims, witnesses and jurors. If Holyrood passes the bill many unique parts of Scots law will be altered. The legislation ranges from scrapping the historic 110-day rule for court appearances to extending the sentencing powers of sheriff courts . . .” BBC
“Court reform” Scottish TV
See also
Parliament: Decision and vote. 28.4.04.
Bill and associated papers at all stages including ‘as passed’.
Posted by MM on Thu 29th Apr 2004 at 12:55 pm“DNA kits help stop train spitting: DNA swabbing is cracking down on spitting on Scotland’s trains, British Transport Police have said. The DNA swab kits were given to ScotRail staff throughout the country a year ago. . .” BBC
“McConnell says anti-social behaviour is decreasing but it will take time: The First Minister says that anti social behaviour is decreasing in some parts of Scotland but he concedes it will take time before all communities notice a real difference. Jack McConnell was speaking at a news briefing to mark the first anniversary of Labour’s partnership agreement with the Liberal Democrats, which falls next week. . .” Scottish TV
Posted by MM on Thu 29th Apr 2004 at 12:45 pmThe Scottish Police Federation has responded to the Consultation on Hate Crime. The Federation does not support the creation of a specific new offence.
Press release
“Consultation on Hate Crime: [. . .] we do not support the creation of a specific statutory hate crime. We believe that the flexibility inherent in the common law would be eroded by such a statutory provision. We also agree that there is a real danger of creating a hierarchy of victims which has the potential to be virtually endless. . .” Scottish Police Federation
See also
Working Group on Hate Crime: Consultation Paper.
Posted by MM on Wed 28th Apr 2004 at 9:53 pm