Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Shadow Deputy Justice Minister Mr Stewart Stevenson MSP has today (Monday) said that the findings of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Review suggest that there are still major problems with the processing of cases through the High Court, which will be of little comfort to the people who have been affected by these crimes. Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“The findings of this report suggest that there are still major problems with the processing of cases through the High Court.
“The Lord Advocate set these targets to restore the public’s faith in the judicial system, and while these may have been met in some areas, only just over half of the most serious cases have been brought to court within the 9 month guideline.
“The fact that some of the most serious cases are being delayed will be of little comfort to those who have been affected by these crimes.
“The purpose of the time limit is to prevent injustice and ensure that the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service prepare cases quickly.
“We badly need to speed up the processing of cases and ensure quicker access to justice for both the victims and those accused of the crime.”
“The Lord Advocate set these targets to restore the public’s faith in the judicial system, and while these may have been met in some areas, only just over half of the most serious cases have been brought to court within the 9 month guideline.
“The fact that some of the most serious cases are being delayed will be of little comfort to those who have been affected by these crimes.
“The purpose of the time limit is to prevent injustice and ensure that the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service prepare cases quickly.
“We badly need to speed up the processing of cases and ensure quicker access to justice for both the victims and those accused of the crime.”
