Glasgow plea surgery off to promising start

A new plea surgery at Glasgow Sheriff Court has led to the early resolution of nearly 130 cases, both solemn and summary, Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service has announced.

Dealing with all sheriff summary and solemn business as well as cases before the justice of the peace court, it is conducted each Monday on a drop-in basis which allows defence agents to attend while at Glasgow Sheriff Court on other business. After taking instructions from their client, an agent can discuss the case with a procurator fiscal depute who is authorised to discuss and agree pleas if that is possible.

The surgery was introduced by Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar, with the support of the procurator fiscal, the Glasgow Bar Association and the Royal Faculty of Procurators. Based on a successful initiative in Hamilton introduced by the sheriff principal while she was Sheriff Principal in South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway, it aims to reduce the number of cases calling at a trial diet and to help tackle the post-Covid backlog of cases. A recent study across Scotland found that in a 12 month period, out of 36,000 not guilty pleas in summary cases only 5,500 evidence led trials took place.

So far there have been plea discussions in 58 solemn cases and 79 summary cases. Thirty s 76 letters, indicating an intention to plead guilty in a solemn case, have been tendered.  The solemn plea discussions alone represent approximately two weeks of all jury trial business in Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Principal Anwar commented: "Working together to secure early resolutions and to promote efficient disposal of court business helps to prevent witnesses and complainers being called to court unnecessarily and allows the accused to bring a conclusion to proceedings. It also assists with reducing waiting times for cases which do proceed to trial. In short, it helps to improve public confidence in the court process.

"I would like to thank the Crown and the defence for their enthusiastic participation in the plea surgery."

Procurator fiscal Fraser Gibson said: "The plea surgery has dealt with over 130 cases, providing swifter outcomes, greater certainty and less inconvenience to victims and witnesses and producing significant efficiencies for criminal justice partners in Glasgow."

Michael Gallen, President of the Glasgow Bar Association added: "The early signs suggest this will be hugely beneficial to all involved in the court process in facilitating the early resolution of proceedings and relieving the anxiety occasioned by delays in these proceedings."