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Scottish Court Delays Punishing Victims

Cutbacks and a lack of resources are punishing victims who are having to wait longer for cases of domestic and sexual abuse to be concluded due to a lack of spending according to critics.

Figures obtained through use of a Freedom of Information Act showed that cases in the domestic abuse court in Glasgow were taking twice as long as expected.

Twice as Long as Expected

Cases in the court should take six to eight weeks but figures showed that cases finished in 2014 on average sixteen weeks after they began. The report also showed that one case took 75 weeks to be concluded. 

Despite the criticism, the Scottish Court Service insists that the delays are not due to a lack of service, but have invested more in the system in the hope that it could prevent further delays. 

The figures have been met with criticism by experts with a support agency for domestic and sexual abuse believing that the Scottish courts are failing victims. 

Failing Victims

Mhairi McGowan, head of specialist support agency Assist said the agency was aware of some cases taking over two years to conclude. She said: "If we can deal with cases within six to eight weeks that reduces repeat incidents, holds people to account quickly and means the victim does not have it hanging over them.

"It really makes a difference to people's lives and it is really up to us as institutions and as a society to make sure the justice system is providing what the public require."

Eric McQueen, chief executive said of the SCS, said: "There is no doubt that over the last year and a half the reporting and detection of crimes, including sexual, domestic abuse and road traffic offences, has surged, reflecting the proactive policing and prosecution and greater victim confidence to report crimes.

"While associations have been made with court closures, this simply muddies the water.

"The SCS equally has no doubt that the physical court capacity exists to deal effectively with this increased volume of business.

"Additional judiciary, court staff and fiscal staff have been deployed to use the court capacity available, ensuring the additional volume of business is dealt with effectively by the courts.

"We are implementing court programming to provide for the majority of summary trials to be held within 16 weeks of a not guilty pleas being tendered.

Contact Us 

If you have been a victim of domestic abuse or sexual violence, contact us today, For free, confidential legal advice call us on 01383 730466 (Dunfermline) or 01592 640680 (Kirkcaldy) or contact us online. 

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