Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service publishes business plan

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) Business Plan 2024-25 has been published, setting out the organisation’s plans and ambitions for the coming year.

The plan supports the delivery of the strategic objectives set out in the SCTS’s Corporate Plan for 2023-26 and represents the collective effort of teams across the organisation. It was approved by the SCTS Board at its meeting on 25th March.

Eric McQueen, Chief Executive, said: “Over the coming year, our priorities will be driven across four key reform areas – criminal justice, civil justice, tribunals and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) – while strengthening our underpinning corporate services. Across the justice sector everyone is having to deal with a challenging economic outlook and the journey towards net zero; continued digital innovation of our services in a way that creates a more just, accessible service and improvements to our built estate to reduce carbon output are more important now than ever before.

“We are also looking at how best to deliver our services, given that complainers, witnesses and the accused’s experiences of the justice system can lead to further re-traumatisation. One of our key goals this year is to become a trauma-informed organisation, using the Knowledge and Skills Framework for Trauma Informed Justice to enhance the awareness and ability of all our people. In addition, our four specialist evidence suites will be expanded over the course of the year, with all new services being trauma informed by design.

“I welcome the publication of our business plan, which sets out how we will continue to develop our people, promoting an inclusive workforce and our ambitions to embed new ways of working that will support justice now and in the future.”