Local MSP Claire Baker has voiced her concerns after The Scottish Court Service launched their consultation on court closures last week. The potential changes that could emerge from the consultation include denying Kirkcaldy Sherriff Court the right to hold jury trails, with Dunfermline becoming the central court for jury trails in the area.

The potential changes could also see the amalgamation of Kirkcaldy justice of the peace court into Kirkcaldy Sherriff Court. The report also earmarks Cupar Sherriff Court for closure.

The Scottish Court Service consultation comes on the back of the draft budget announcement last week that will see the Scottish Court Service budget cut by £10.9 million over the next two years.

Claire Baker has previously spoken in the Scottish Parliament about her concerns that local and rural courts could be closed due to Scottish Government cuts.

Speaking from Kirkcaldy Claire Baker MSP said;

“The people of Kirkcaldy deserve justice to be delivered locally and in a meaningful way. I have grave concerns that by moving jury trails out of Kirkcaldy and into Dunfermline that we will see an increase in delays for trials.

“Any delays will just add to what is already a stressful ordeal for victims when what we should be seeing is a system that makes it easier for victims to see justice delivered.

“These potential closures raise serious questions that the Scottish Government must answer and I will be writing to the Justice Secretary to raise my concerns. This further round of budget cuts announced by the SNP in their draft budget may prove to be the final nail in the coffin for local courts across Scotland and Fife.”