Hi–tech plan to cut court no–shows

An IT system aimed at reducing the number of people who fail to appear at court hearings is being piloted in Airdrie.

The problem is estimated to cost the police, the Crown Office and the Scottish Court Service £3.5 million a year.

The court door-listing pilot technology compares lists of those due to appear in court with those in prison custody, in order to cut down on the number of no-shows and avoid unnecessary delays and costs.

It also identifies those accused who are due in different courts at the same time.

The Scottish Prison Service found that, from analysis of 2010 figures, about 3 per cent of court hearings did not have the accused present because they were in prison custody and no-one at the court knew that in advance, leading to cases being recalled and warrants being issued.