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6,000 on the run as police fail to fulfil warrants

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Published Date: 27 June 2009
By Angus Howarth
JUSTICE secretary Kenny MacAskill was accused of "losing grip" on crime yesterday after it was revealed that almost 6,000 suspected criminals are on the run in Scotland as police fail to fulfil their warrants.
The suspects include some feared to have committed some of the most serious crimes, including five outstanding warrants for murder, eight for attempted murder, six for rape and one for attempted rape.

And three of Scotland's police forces admit they do not keep an easily-accessible record of what crime each outstanding warrant was issued for.

Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "This is another example of the mess that the justice system is in under Kenny MacAskill. Someone needs to get a grip on the situation, but there is no confidence in this minister to deliver."

A spokesman for Mr MacAskill confirmed that no guidance was issued on the recording of police warrants.

But Scottish Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: "There has to be a much more determined approach to the execution of warrants, particularly when these relate to a failure to appear on a serious charge."





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26/06/2009 23:39:59
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Teofilio Cubillas,

27/06/2009 00:31:53
As police fail to 'fulfil' their warrants? I think you'll find the term is 'execute'. Anyway, how is this the police's fault? The Scotsman goes for the bogeyman nonsense about a handful of murder and rape warrants (the majority of who will be abroad) while the truth is that the vast, vast majority will be warrants for non-payment of fines. That our court system continues to fine those who have a history of non-payment is hardly cause to criticise the police.

ps Richard Baker - the situation was exactly the same, if not worse, when your bunch of thieves and incompetents were in power.
3

mr broon,

Edinburgh 27/06/2009 08:16:39
Mr. Magoo's time as a minor Justice of the Peace must have gone to his head?

What would he know about the execution of warrants on serious charges?

A minor Justice of the Peace, normally one of a rota of "toon cooncillors", is a merely a figurehead because, he or she, is not qualified in Scots Law, sentencing powers, or issuing warrants.

The Clerk of Court is the qualified official who really runs the Court and guides the unqualified mouthpiece of the Justice through the maze of Scots Law and court procedure.

A Justice of the Peace wouldn't know the difference between Scots Law and Scotch Mist!

 

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