Technical glitches cause problems to Inverness court system
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A sheriff delivered a damning verdict on remote working and technology as the busiest Inverness court since the Covid-19 lockdown began was beset by problems.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson was presiding over Inverness Sheriff Court number two at the new multimillion-pound Inverness Justice Centre last Thursday, with a list of 82 cases calling.
But its start was delayed by an hour as an audio link with fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart was not working properly.
He was at another location outside the courthouse.
Despite a successful earlier test by a court officer, Mr Urquhart could be heard answering his call but was then drowned out with high-pitched tweeting noises.
Frantic efforts were made to resolve the problem by the court officer and sheriff clerk and after 30 minutes, they succeeded in contacting Mr Urquhart on another phone and he could be heard. But Mr Urquhart could not hear solicitors, only the sheriff.
Sheriff Neilson commented sarcastically after coming on to the bench, complaining about background noise on the audio link: “Well, this is working perfectly!”
She added later: “If I am having to change the camera [to activate the microphones in front of solicitors] every 10 seconds when someone speaks, it is a piece of nonsense.”
The court eventually began, only to face more problems. Some cases had to be deferred again because solicitors’ clients were not allowed access to the building. They had been omitted from the permission list exercised by the security officer at the public entrance.
Other cases were knocked on because solicitors had been told that background reports were not available, when they had in fact been done.
Mr Urquhart also did not have some paperwork to hand, prompting another outburst by Sheriff Neilson.
She said: “This is not satisfactory in any way. Email your office and get someone up here to deal with it. They are only along the corridor of this building.”
The justice system faces a huge backlog of cases and it had been hoped virtual trials and remote working would provide a solution.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) said: “The court commenced later than anticipated due to an unseen delay owing to additional time being required to consider documents prior to beginning the court business.
“The telephone link between parties in the court was tested prior to the commencement of the day’s business and this test was successful. When the telephone link was re-established, issues with the audio were identified and resolved. The cause of the issues with the audio are being investigated to ensure the highest possible level of service is being delivered.
“In terms of SCTS arrangements during coronavirus to keep our buildings safe, secure and clean, members of the public are asked not to attend any building unless they have been specifically requested to by a court. The list referred to identifies when a sheriff wishes an accused to attend personally. Anyone ordered to appear personally in respect of a deferred sentence would be included in this list.”
