Dumfries Sheriff Court could be upgrade to ensure continued operation during coronavirus pandemic

Dumfries Sheriff Court could be in line for an upgrade to ensure it can continue operating during the coronavirus pandemic.

The facility “will be part of the considerations” for a share of £50 million of Scottish Government funding aimed at tackling a backlog of court cases across the country.

At the start of the year, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service moved jury trials from its courts in Dumfries and Stranraer to Ayrshire due to the coronavirus pandemic as they claimed it would cost £40,000 to make one of the buildings covid-safe for such a trial.

That prompted an outcry from people concerned about the safety of having those involved in a trial travelling across the country while the rest of the population was being told to stay at home, while there were also fears that the move could become permanent.

With the service extending restrictions on court activity until at least the end of March, Galloway and West Dumfries Tory MSP Finlay Carson challenged Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf on the issue at Holyrood on Thursday.

He said: “Why has the Scottish National Party Government not given courts, such as the one in Dumfries in my constituency, the appropriate resources to become Covid safe for business and allow more victims to gain justice?”

Mr Yousaf replied: “First and foremost, I recognise the impact that any suspension of courts can have on victims.

“However, the decision is not one for the Scottish Government to take – it is rightly taken independently by the Lord President. We have increased funding for victims organisations.

“I know that Finlay Carson has a long-standing interest in the court in Dumfries. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has confirmed that, when it comes to the plans for potentially increasing court capacity and using that £50 million, Dumfries will be part of the considerations.”