A report into the impact of summary justice reforms, which gave sweeping new powers to the police and provoked widespread condemnation from the legal profession has concluded that the majority of the public “knew little” of either the reforms or the operation of the summary justice system.

The report concluded that there “remained some scepticism about whether some of the specific reforms would meet the desired outcomes over time.”

“While professionals had some awareness, members of the public and victims and lay witnesses knew little of the reforms or the Scottish summary criminal system overall,” the report said.

The report added that it had “uncovered” generally good levels of support for the ambitions of summary justice, but added that “there remains some doubt about whether all of the specific objectives will be achieved.”

The rolling reforms, introduced over an 18 month period passed radical new powers to the police which restricted individual liberties and reversed presumptions of innocence, and were described as “draconian” by practitioners, who expressed dismay at the minimal time given to consultation on the reforms.

There were also concerns that more serious offences would be downgraded if dealt with summarily, instead of via the courts as previously.

Critics derided the programme as justice “on the cheap”

The report can be read here.


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