- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any target for reducing the number of persistent young offenders in each year to 2006.
Answer
In Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys the Executive set out our target that by 2006, the number of persistent young offenders will be 10% less than in 2000-01. This target is not broken down by year.
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average duration, including adjournments, of a summary trial in the sheriff court has been in each of the last three years, broken down by sheriff court district.
Answer
The average duration of summary criminal trials is shown in the following table. The duration of a trial can vary depending on the nature of the case and the volume of evidence which requires to be heard. The average for a court can vary for a number of reasons including changes in the pattern and volume of business.Average Duration of a Summary Trial (in Hours) Per Sheriff Court
| 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 |
| Aberdeen | 2.71 | 2.74 | 2.63 |
| Airdrie | 1.86 | 1.58 | 2.88 |
| Alloa | 1.84 | 1.89 | 2.53 |
| Arbroath | 2.15 | 2.93 | 2.34 |
| Ayr | 2.11 | 2.29 | 3.16 |
| Banff | 2.33 | 2.40 | 2.53 |
| Campbeltown | 1.62 | 1.25 | 2.41 |
| Cupar | 2.46 | 2.41 | 2.33 |
| Dingwall | 2.00 | 1.87 | 1.20 |
| Dornoch | 3.07 | 3.03 | 1.04 |
| Dumbarton | 2.10 | 1.52 | 2.35 |
| Dumfries | 1.65 | 1.36 | 1.91 |
| Dundee | 2.77 | 2.25 | 2.18 |
| Dunfermline | 1.56 | 1.94 | 2.52 |
| Dunoon | 2.35 | 2.23 | 2.32 |
| Edinburgh | 2.02 | 1.65 | 2.15 |
| Elgin | 2.44 | 2.13 | 0.83 |
| Falkirk | 2.19 | 1.74 | 1.88 |
| Forfar | 1.83 | 2.14 | 2.65 |
| Fort William | 2.00 | 1.51 | 1.94 |
| Glasgow | 1.52 | 1.38 | 2.65 |
| Greenock | 1.47 | 1.37 | 2.84 |
| Haddington | 2.09 | 2.16 | 2.91 |
| Hamilton | 1.64 | 2.14 | 2.60 |
| Inverness | 1.61 | 2.08 | 2.03 |
| Jedburgh | 1.42 | 3.25 | 3.29 |
| Kilmarnock | 0.84 | 0.71 | 2.20 |
| Kirkcaldy | 2.72 | 2.14 | 2.22 |
| Kirkcudbright | 1.94 | 2.03 | 0.64 |
| Kirkwall | 1.48 | 3.37 | 2.40 |
| Lanark | 3.17 | 3.29 | 2.64 |
| Lerwick | 1.92 | 2.05 | 1.82 |
| Linlithgow | 2.88 | 2.61 | 2.63 |
| Lochmaddy | 0.38 | 0.76 | 1.20 |
| Oban | 2.33 | 2.61 | 2.18 |
| Paisley | 1.85 | 1.62 | 1.88 |
| Peebles | 1.38 | 1.08 | 1.58 |
| Perth | 2.60 | 2.63 | 2.55 |
| Peterhead | 3.03 | 2.43 | 3.38 |
| Portree | 0.56 | 1.18 | 0.81 |
| Rothesay | 0.88 | 0.77 | 0.88 |
| Selkirk | 0.98 | 1.54 | 2.79 |
| Stirling | 2.38 | 2.33 | 2.41 |
| Stonehaven | 1.69 | 1.88 | 2.48 |
| Stornoway | 1.01 | 1.25 | 1.52 |
| Stranraer | 1.39 | 1.48 | 1.13 |
| Tain | 2.59 | 2.44 | 1.48 |
| Wick | 1.99 | 1.78 | 2.42 |
| Average for all Sheriff Courts | 1.93 | 1.98 | 2.15 |
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to agree a new target for an increase in sei'ures of class A drugs for 2006, as referred to in target 2 in the justice section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer
The new target will be agreed in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the conveners of police authorities. An announcement will be made once agreement is reached.
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its 12% target increase of victims of crime that want support having been offered or successfully sought that support is a percentage of the present number receiving support or a percentage of all victims that want support, as referred to in target 5 in the justice section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer
The percentage increase in the number of victims of crime that want support, having been offered or successfully sought that support, is primarily a tool for measuring improvements in the support provided to victims of crime. The key target which has been set by the Executive is that at least 75% of victims who want support will successfully receive support.
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive why the public survey to monitor trends in public confidence in the prosecution service will not start until 2003-04, as referred to in target 3 in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer
The public survey will not start until 2003-04 because thought needs to be given to the appropriate questions to ask, to ensure that national standards for quality control are applied properly in developing the survey.
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive who will be responsible for developing the customer satisfaction survey for the Victim Information and Advice Service, as referred to in target 8 in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer
Staff of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are drawing on external expert assistance as appropriate.
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the differences are between the target for issue of indictments used in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and the new target for issue of indictments and what the advantages are of the new target, as referred to in target 6 in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer
Target 6 is the same as the target for the issue of indictments used in 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that resources are not diverted away from meeting statutory time limits for bringing cases to trial in order to meet its targets for the Crown Office, as referred to in target 6 in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer
Improvements in the management of cases and enhancements to our systems that are being made following the Pryce-Dyer Management Review are designed to ensure that the targets can be met without any cases failing to be dealt with within the statutory time limits.
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a maximum time limit for completion of those 10% of cases of investigations of complaints of criminal conduct by police officers that are not subject to the target set out in target 10(a) in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer
Target 10(a) was set at 90% in recognition of the fact that the more complex cases may not be able to be investigated properly within 12 weeks. No formal target has been set but it is intended that the remaining 10% of cases should be completed as soon after the 12 weeks period as possible and that the complainer will be informed of progress.
- Asked by: Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 7 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what body will give approval of the quality of investigation and decision-making for complaints against the police, as referred to in target 10(b) in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer
The independent inspectorate to be established by the end of 2003 will give approval or otherwise of the quality of investigation and decision-making in cases involving complaints against the police.
