News about criminal justice in Scotland

This is where you can find news taken from the media and other on-line sources about crime and justice issues in Scotland and, where relevant, the rest of the UK and Europe, together with press releases, original sources and other useful links. We try to update daily. If you can't immediately find what you are looking for try the site search or go to 'Archives' on menu bar. Links to other sites are for provided for your information and do not imply an endorsement of their content. Also, although CjScotland attempts to be as comprehensive as possible in its coverage we do not represent that all the information you might need can be obtained from this site. This is a person, not a computer, compiled blog.

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Latest Justice News From the Scottish Government

Appointment of part-time sheriff
New appointment to the office of part-time sheriff.

National drug deaths database
Social and medical history of every person whose life is lost to drugs will be recorded in Scotland.

Police recruitment
Justice Secretary meets new recruits.

CjScotland News Log

Friday, January 16, 2004

Advocates attack increased use of temporary judges

Media

Update

“‘Justice on the cheap’ claim as temporary judges increase: Senior lawyers accused the Executive yesterday of delivering justice on the cheap in Scotland?s supreme courts. The attack by the Faculty of Advocates centred on an increasing use of temporary judges in the High Court and the Court of Session. The faculty claimed that the practice was “undermining and damaging” the status of the country?s highest criminal and civil courts. . .” Scotsman

“Lawyers criticise executive over temporary judges: Leading lawyers have criticised the Scottish Executive’s policy of increasing the number of temporary judges to hear high court cases. . .” Herald

Following posted on 15.1.05 at 4:43pm.

“Temporary judge policy attacked: Leading lawyers have criticised the Scottish Executive policy of increasing the numbers of temporary judges to hear High Court cases.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson has defended the charge from the Faculty of Advocates. . .” BBC

“Claim temporary judges are undermining Scotland?s courts: Scotland’s leading courtroom lawyers have attacked the increasing use of temporary judges in the country’s Supreme Courts. A record number of part-time judges are now presiding over criminal trials and civil cases at the High Court and Court of Session. The Faculty of Advocates has called for them to be replaced with permanent judges. . .” Scottish TV

“Call for more perminant judges: Grampian TV Source’s spelling!

“Lawyers make case for more full-time judges: Leading Scottish lawyers have called for the appointment of more full-time judges to sit in the country?s top courts. . .” Evening News

Press Release

“Discussion on High Court reform: High Court reforms now going through the Scottish Parliament must be implemented and tested before the Executive could consider increasing Scotland?s complement of permanent judges, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said today. . .” Scot. Exec.

Posted by MM on Fri 16th Jan 2004 at 2:22 pm
Courts • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Community Service pilot for fine default

Media

Updated

“Court initiative for fine defaulters: Courts will lose the power to jail fine-defaulters at two courts in the west of Scotland under a new scheme announced yesterday by ministers. Instead, fine-defaulters will be placed automatically on “supervised attendance orders” which could require them to attend courses on managing their finances. . .” Scotsman

“Courts Lose Power to Jail Fine Dodgers: They’ll get lessons in finance. Fewer Scots who can’t afford to pay fines will wind up in jail if a pilot scheme launched yesterday takes hold. . .” Daily Record

Following posted on 15.1.04. at 4:51pm.

“Courts test fine default scheme: Courts in Glasgow and Ayr will be the first in Scotland to automatically place fine defaulters on intensive community service instead of sending them to prison. . .” Evening Times

Press Release

“New options for handling fine defaulters: Glasgow District Stipendiary Magistrates Court and Ayr Sheriff Court will be the first in Scotland to automatically place fine defaulters on an intensive community sentence instead of jail, it was announced today. Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said that extending the use of existing community sentences like Supervised Attendance Orders (SAOs) in this fashion was a ?smart option? that could help improve the efficiency of our justice system and ease some of the strain on our prison service. . .” Scot. Exec.

Posted by MM on Fri 16th Jan 2004 at 2:15 pm
Criminal justice reform Sentencing Community sentences Fines • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Tyre dumping enforcement campaign

“Crackdown on fly tippers: Fly tippers who illegally dump tyres are being targeted in a joint crackdown with Glasgow city council and Strathclyde police. Last year nearly thirty five thousand tyres were left at unauthorised sites creating serious environmental and safety hazards. . .” Scottish TV

Posted by MM on Fri 16th Jan 2004 at 2:12 pm
Corporate issues Environment Crime Prevention Community initiatives Police Campaigns • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Tories argue for more police on beat

“Conservatives call for more police on beat: The Scottish Executive?s ability to tackle anti-social behaviour was attacked yesterday after it emerged only 140 police officers are on patrol in Scotland at any one time. The Scottish Conservative Party said the figures undermined the Executive?s flagship Anti-Social Behaviour Bill and called for more officers to be employed as a matter of urgency. . .” Scotsman

Herald puts case for ‘Scandinavian’ justice model

“Cut the number in jail. Nordic-style attitude to prisons points the way ahead : Californian or Scandinavian? It refers not to a choice between coffee blends or design styles but the serious matter of crime prevention and punishment, and the balance to be struck between the two. America, with the biggest prisoner population in the world, and the Nordic countries, with some of the smallest, tend towards the polar opposites. At a time when Scotland is locking up a record number of people, it is worth considering in which direction we are heading. In that context, the intervention of Dr Jim McManus, chairman of Scotland’s parole board, could not be more timely. . .” Herald. Editorial.

Re-think on Trials in Absence Signalled by Deputy Justice Minister

“Fears force rethink over big trial plans: Plans to try serious criminals in their absence may be ditched by the Scottish Executive after a wave of opposition to them. Hugh Henry, the deputy justice minister, said yesterday that ministers would review the proposals following concern from civil-rights campaigners, lawyers and sheriffs. . .” Scotsman

Justice 1. Papers for 14.01.04. Report not available at time of posting.

Posted by MM on Thu 15th Jan 2004 at 2:35 pm
Courts Legislation Criminal Procedure • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Fixed Penalty for Dundee Drivers without Insurance

“New fixed fines for uninsured drivers; Prosecutors and police in Dundee may soon be able to make inroads into what a sheriff has dubbed the ?Dundee disease?? driving without insurance. They are to introduce recent legislation which allows procurators fiscal and the police to impose fixed penalty fines of ?200 plus six penalty points for driving without insurance, an offence which has escalated across Scotland. . .” Courier

Posted by MM on Thu 15th Jan 2004 at 2:33 pm
Courts Procurators Fiscal Sentencing Fines • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Glasgow Bans ‘Happy Hours’

“City bans happy hours to curb binge drinking: A ban on the promotion of happy hours in Glasgow pubs and clubs has been introduced in an attempt to control binge drinking and cut-price promotions. The city?s licensing board hope the policy will help solve the problem of anti-social behaviour and ill-health associated with binge drinking. . .” Scotsman

Posted by MM on Thu 15th Jan 2004 at 2:31 pm
Crime Prevention Drugs and alcohol • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Grampian Crime and Alcohol Seminars

“Relationship between Crime and Alcohol to be Explored: The relationship between alcohol and crime is to be explored in detail during a seminar in Inverurie next week [. . .] The meetings have been organised by Grampian Police, in conjunction with the Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership, as part of ongoing efforts to tackle drink-fuelled crime. . .” Press and Journal

EU Arrest Warrant and Extradition to US

“EU arrest warrant put into practice: The seven EU states which missed the January 2004 deadline to adopt the European Arrest Warrant have said they will do so by March. The European Arrest Warrant was supposed to enter into force in all the 15 EU states in January this year, but only eight countries - the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden - have kept to the deadline. The rest are now expected to do so by March this year - a delay that the Commission said will not create any major problems. . .” EUObserver

“Extradition legislation slipped through parliament over Christmas holiday: - controversial UK-US treaty ratified;- use of Statutory Instrument “an abuse of democracy"- shadow Home Secretary; - UK Extradition Act 2003 given full effect . . .“Statewatch

European Arrest Warrant. Home Office page.

Press Release

“Extradition laws streamlined: Proposals have been unveiled that will enable Scotland to benefit from new, streamlined extradition laws. . .“ Scot.Exec. 21.11.2002.

Posted by MM on Wed 14th Jan 2004 at 1:41 pm
Europe and justice • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Knife seizures in central Glasgow down on 2002.

“Police seize 600 weapons in crackdown on knives: The crackdown on knife crime in Glasgow city centre saw police arrest 190 suspects carrying concealed weapons, according to new figures. The statistics for 2003 reveal a further 402 knives were found on suspects. . .” Scotsman

“600 knives seized in city centre crackdown: Hundreds of knives were seized from criminals in Glasgow city centre last year, shock new figures reveal [. . .] However, the total of 592 weapons seized fell by more than one-fifth on the 2002 figure when 760 knives were found. . .” Evening Times 12. 1 04

Posted by MM on Wed 14th Jan 2004 at 1:33 pm
Crime data Police Campaigns • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

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