Most criminal trials to be suspended during COP26
The COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow this autumn will have a significant effect on criminal business in the Scottish courts, due to the demands on police resources, Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service has revealed.
The United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP26) will be the biggest and most complex event ever held in Scotland. Hosted by the UK Government and taking place at the SEC in Glasgow between Sunday 31 October and Friday 12 November 2021, thousands of delegates and a significant number of heads of state are expected to attend.
Police Scotland announced last month that the safety and security operation for the conference will involve one of the biggest mobilisations of police assets the UK has ever seen, with around 10,000 officers deployed each day. Officers will be drafted from all divisions across Scotland, supported by a substantial number from other UK police services as part of mutual aid arrangements. This level of deployment will have a significant impact on police officers’ availability to attend court as police witnesses.
Since officers will be unable to attend as witnesses for sheriff court and JP court trials, no sheriff or JP summary trials will take place for a three-week period from 25 October to 12 November in any court across Scotland. Some courts will, however, be running notional trial courts without witnesses.
In addition, no sheriff and jury trials will take place for a two-week period from 1 November to 12 November in any sheriff court. Procedural criminal courts will continue as normal, and there is the potential for additional civil business to be dealt with over the conference period.
The High Court will continue to sit as programmed. However, given the proximity of the conference to Glasgow High Court and the potential for disruption, trials assigned for Glasgow during the two weeks from 1 November to 12 November will instead be heard at sheriff courts outside Glasgow.
It is anticipated that the conference itself will attract demonstrations and peaceful protests, with some potential for disruption, based on experience from previous events. SCTS is putting in place contingency plans to manage any additional custody business, which may include the requirement to run weekend custody courts in some locations, if required, and potentially to move custodies across locations.
SCTS says it is working with Police Scotland and the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service to develop robust contingency measures, and will be engaging with wider justice partners in the coming weeks to ensure these measures are effective.