Figures reveal court reforms for speedier justice are falling short
NEW court reforms intended to bring about speedier and more effective justice are not being used as much as had been expected, a senior lawyer said yesterday.
Statistics on the impact of new summary justice legislation were made public by Frank Mulholland, Solicitor General for Scotland.
However he said "uninformed criticism and comment" by some lawyers and MSPs risked damaging public confidence. Legislation passed last year was meant to make the justice system speedier by extending the use of "direct measures" like fiscal fines, or making compensation payments.
Mr Mulholland dismissed claims that summary court prosecutions had been reduced by up to 75 per cent and insisted since the reforms were introduced there had been a fall in prosecutions of 13 per cent.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- Mystery after body discovered near West Highland Way
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Leveson inquiry: Tony Blair defends links with Rupert Murdoch
- Abu Qatada case stalls again but Olympics mean he must stay in prison
- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Jim McColl may back Scottish independence if third option omitted
- Craig Levein insists Scotland will recover from US thrashing
- James McPake set for Coventry talks as Hibs wait in wings
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
