Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has welcomed the support from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill for his proposal for a new Justice Centre in Dingwall.

Earlier in the week, the proposal had also received support from Brigadier Hugh Munro, Scotland’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, who highlighted the advantages of siting a new development in Dingwall while land was so difficult to find and expensive in Inverness.

Dave said: “I am encouraged by the positive comments from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Chief Inspector of Prisons, which show that the proposal for a Justice Centre in Dingwall is one that enjoys a good level of support. The Cabinet Secretary confirmed that while this is a decision for the Scottish Courts service, the idea of a Justice Centre in the Highlands is one which has already been given some consideration.

Dave has also received an acknowledgement to his letter making the case for a Justice Centre at Dingwall from Lord Justice General Gill. In his acknowledgement, the Lord Justice states that Dave’s request will receive a detailed response from Eric McQueen, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service.

Dave added: “I look forward to the response from Eric McQueen and for more information from the Scottish Courts Service as to what consideration it has given to the creation of a Justice Centre in the Highlands.

“The co-location of a new court along with prison facilities offers the opportunity to free up valuable assets such as Inverness Castle and the Porterfield Prison, while delivering a better justice system for the people of Dingwall, Inverness and the wider Highlands and Islands community.

Notes

Dave’s question and the Cabinet Secretary’s answer is below:

Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP): Does the cabinet secretary agree that a new justice centre should be built in Dingwall to replace the Inverness and Dingwall courts? Does he agree with Brigadier Hugh Monro that Dingwall should be considered as a location for a replacement for the Porterfield prison? Brigadier Monro thinks that that may well be a good idea in providing justice for the north.

Kenny MacAskill: First, I put on record my thanks and gratitude to Brigadier Monro for his service. He was an outstanding inspector of prisons, and I would like that to be formally recorded.

Obviously, the building of a new justice centre is a matter for the Scottish Court Service to progress. It has a long-term vision for Scotland that includes justice centres, and the areas that have so far been identified for such centres include the Borders, Fife, Lanarkshire and Highland.

There is merit in what Dave Thompson suggests—as Brigadier Monro has highlighted—with regard to ensuring that prisons and courts are at least proximate, if not co-located. I am sure that the matter regarding Dingwall that the constituency MSP has raised is of interest to the Scottish Court Service and to the Scottish Prison Service.