A Fife MSP has renewed a call for a justice centre in Kirkcaldy after jury trials at the town’s sheriff court doubled.
Claire Baker, who is Scottish Labour’s justice spokeswoman, said: “Jury trials have doubled, the number of adjournments due to lack of court time have increased and this is all despite the number of days the court has sat also increasing. This shows just how much of a strain the current court in under in Kirkcaldy.
“The public want to see justice, delivered locally, with victims and their families fully supported and protected during the legal process.”
In the year 2015-16 there were 131 jury trials at Kirkcaldy compared to 66 in 2015-16.
Meanwhile, the number of summary trials calling increased from 1,196 to 2,060.
“Currently Kirkcaldy and the surrounding area is being served by a court deemed not fit for purpose,” said Mrs Baker.
“As the stats revealed to me show, the problems facing the court have gotten worse since 2012, not better.”
In 2012 a consultation document from the Scottish Court Services that led to the closure of local courts across Scotland highlighted the need for change in Kirkcaldy.
It was suggested Kirkcaldy would be an appropriate location for a sheriff and jury centre serving east Fife.
However, the report stated that this would not happen immediately because “the accommodation available at Kirkcaldy is not of the standard we would wish.”
Over the five-year period, there has been a 55% increase in the number of trials adjourned.
A quarter of these were adjourned due to a lack of court time.
Last year, the Scottish Government announced backing for a £23 million justice centre in Inverness to replace its existing sheriff court.
Mrs Baker: “The case for a new, state of the art, justice centre in Kirkcaldy gets stronger with each and every passing year. As the Scottish Court Service accepted in 2012, Kirkcaldy is the best place for such a centre in the east Fife region.
“The case can no longer be denied by the Scottish Government. They must now bring forward plans for a new justice centre in Kirkcaldy.”
