Inverness Justice Centre opened amid lockdown

Scotland’s first purpose-built justice centre has been opened in Inverness, in the midst of the nationwide shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The immediate focus of the new centre will be critical business prioritised during the outbreak. It will operate as one of 10 key court hubs continuing to support the delivery of justice.

The facility, which began construction in 2017, will bring together integrated justice services under one roof to support victims, witnesses, litigants and other users, with specially designed facilities for children and vulnerable witnesses.

However, during the current crisis, people are advised to stay away from the building unless they must attend for court proceedings.

Anyone who is required to attend the new Inverness Justice Centre will be subject to strong hygiene and social distancing requirements. Although courts do not provide masks, those who must attend court are welcome to bring their own to use.

Eric McQueen, chief executive of the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service, commented: “This is a landmark building, which, in the future, will offer Inverness the very best of facilities for court users. There is the unique opportunity for all the organisations involved to have an integrated approach to community justice services with the objective of reducing reoffending.” 

Sheriff Principal of Grampian, Highland & Islands, Derek Pyle, added: “This is a milestone for Inverness and gives us so many opportunities. It will offer a new, collaborative approach, bringing together under one roof the courts and tribunals, prosecution, social work, NHS, and other third sector organisations – all providing specialist services. For now it gives us a spacious, clean and digitally enabled centre to operate our services during this coronavirus outbreak.”