CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES IN THE ISLANDS

A delegation from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar visited Edinburgh last week to discuss changes to the criminal justice system that could threaten the services that are provided locally.

Chair of the Social Work Committee, Murdo Macleod, Social Work Director Malcolm Smith and Criminal Justice Manager, Margaret Macleod joined officials and politicians from Shetland and Orkney to argue against the centralisation of criminal justice control outwith the local authorities, possibly with the Scottish Prison Service. A “single agency” based on the Scottish Prison Service’s geographical distribution of bases would not be able to meet the challenges of service delivery in the islands, or large areas of rural Scotland.

Murdo Macleod, Chairman of Social Work Committee, described how Comhairle nan Eilean Siar believed that this move would be wrong. He said:

“Our concern is that further centralisation of this service will take away the local base of skills and knowledge that is an essential part of the effective management of offenders in the community. We made clear our commitment to continue to meet national standards for these services. By almost every measurement, the services provided in the island areas are among the most effective in the country. There is an important national consultation to find ways of reducing offending, but the outcome must not be a diminution of the existing services provided locally.”

Alasdair Morrison MSP commented that it was especially useful to have the Comhairle case presented at a meeting with the other Islands through which to express collective concerns. “This ensured that the argument was founded on circumstances that are common to all the island areas, and certainly adds weight to the strong case being presented, that the local delivery of effective services must not be threatened by the national review”.

Depute First Minister, Jim Wallace also attended the meeting with other MSPs, Mary Scanlon, Tavish Scott, Maureen McMillan, and Jamie McGrigor.

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk