Time is running out to save local courts across the country, including here in the Kingdom, as the Scottish Government and the Scottish Court Service consultation on ‘shaping Scotland’s court services’ draws to a close.

It is important that the Scottish Court Service listens to the views of local communities during this consultation period and I urge residents of the Kingdom to make their voices heard and respond before time runs out.

The consultation proposes the movement of jury trials away from Kirkcaldy, the closure of the Kirkcaldy Justice of the Peace building and the closure of Cupar Sheriff Court. Last week I visited Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to see first hand the facilities on offer for jury trials and I plan to visit Dunfermline in the near future.

These changes will see justice no longer delivered locally and could result in an increase in delays as courts face unintended consequences and pressures. Trials can already be a stressful ordeal for any victims and witnesses and any delays will only add to that.

This is despite figures I obtained from the Scottish Court Service which showed that the Sheriff court in Kirkcaldy has three times as many jury trails as Dunfermline, where the jury trials would be moved to, and sits for almost double the amount of days.

The potential closures are on the back of the Scottish Government’s draft budget which sees the Scottish Court Service issued with a £10.9 million budget cut over the next two years.

What we are seeing is SNP cuts sending the court service into disarray, courts are closing, trials are being moved, the potential for delays are increasing and now defence lawyers are taking industrial action all due to changes imposed by the Scottish Government.

It is important that local voices are heard during this consultation and I would urge you to make a submission and help save our courts.