PRESS RELEASE
July 15th, 2009

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil fears court closures and sheriff cuts could cause delays to local court cases.

The MSP has written to Cabinet Secretary Kenny MacAskill to express concern over a new report that seeks to reform the court system by closing courts and cutting sheriff numbers.

He fears that victims could face further delays to cases if the courts in Rothesay and Dunoon is closed, creating more work for a Greenock court that could have less sheriffs.

Duncan McNeil MSP said: “We have made progress in making the justice system work better for victims and deal with criminals quicker, so I would be very concerned if these cuts were to impact on the work of Greenock Sheriff Court.

“Is it any wonder that our justice system is becoming a joke in the eyes of public by ending prison terms of six months or less and replacing the sentences with fines that are not paid and community services that are not completed?”

“Now a review of courts that the Scottish Court Service admit will cause delays could return us to the bad old days of wasting the time of victims and police and leaving criminals on the street for longer.”

ENDS