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FOREWORD by the Minister for Justice
The Scottish Government is determined to reduce crime and improve the confidence of the Scottish public in the Scottish criminal justice system. We owe it to the victims of crime, to those who take the courageous step of acting as witnesses, and to the many members of the public who are called on to perform jury service, to ensure that the system operates as smoothly and effectively as possible. There is no point in achieving record clear up rates for crime, as we have done, if justice is delayed or in the worst case completely evaded through the inefficient operation of the criminal justice system.
A great deal has already been achieved or is under way. We have carried out a root and branch modernisation of our public prosecution service. We have announced the setting up of a National Criminal Justice System Board and local boards to improve efficiency, identifying and monitoring objectives and targets for the criminal justice system as a whole. We have established a pilot youth court in Hamilton. We have developed and implemented a Scottish Strategy for Victims. And we set up reviews under Lord Bonomy to examine the operation of the High Court of Justiciary and under Sheriff Principal John McInnes QC to examine the operation of summary justice.
In our first term we began the process of modernising our criminal justice system. But much remains to be done. Lord Bonomy reported in December 2002 and we were able to consult on his recommendations before the election. It is now time for a further programme of change in which we will act on Lord Bonomy’s recommendations, and in due course, those of the summary justice review, to modernise the system from the most minor offending to the most serious cases.
In "A Partnership for a Better Scotland" we said that we would legislate to reform the operation of the High Court. Essentially that means we will now implement Lord Bonomy’s report. Part of that process will require legislation and we will bring a Bill before the Scottish Parliament at the earliest opportunity. Other aspects can be implemented administratively and work towards this is already in hand.
This White Paper sets out the results of consultation on the High Court review and our proposals for implementation. It paves the way for the second stage in the most radical reform of our criminal justice system for over 20 years.