Wait time for High Court trials set to triple by 2028

The Scottish Prison Service says the size and complexity of the current prison population was “unsustainable”.

It said it posed a significant risk to the safety of inmates and staff and limits the ability to deliver effective rehabilitation.

A spokesperson said: “We need a safe and sustainable prison population, including those on remand, to ensure we can fully support those in our care, reduce the risk of reoffending, and help build the safer communities we all want to see.”

Victim Support Scotland said an increase in high court trials was a “positive step” towards tackling court backlogs.

Chief executive Debbie Adams said: “One delay has a knock-on effect for the entire justice process, so anything that can be done to help reduce the time victims spend waiting is welcome.”

The Scottish government said it was continuing to work closely with justice partners, including the SCTS, on reform measures and was “providing targeted investment to ensure victims and witnesses experience a more efficient, trauma-informed justice system”.

A spokesperson added: “We recognise the growing volume of serious cases and continue to invest in court capacity.

“We will invest £11.6bn across the justice system in 2026-27 to 2028-29 as we continue to support frontline services, build safe communities, reduce crime and re-offending and support victims and witnesses.”

They added that reforms were required to “respond to society’s changing needs, remove duplication and ensure there are modern user-centred digital services”.

Examples of this include expanding digital evidence sharing capability and enabling police and expert witnesses to give their evidence remotely.