This provided an opportunity to engage with the legal profession, local authorities and a range of others with a professional or voluntary service association with the justice system.

Representatives of the judiciary, court staff, police, Scottish Government, the Scottish Legal Aid Board, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Scottish Prison Service also attended.

255 people took part and the points and ideas raised at the events will inform the further work the SCS is now doing to refine the initial thinking and develop proposals for consideration by the SCS Board later in the summer.

SCS anticipates a three month public consultation on final proposals being launched in the autumn of 2012. Only after the outcome of that consultation would final decisions be made, and, as necessary, statutory orders laid before the Scottish Parliament for approval.

Eric McQueen, SCS Executive Director Field Services, said: "These dialogue events have proved very helpful in our work on shaping Scotland’s future court structures.

"The Scottish Court Service has made a considerable effort to involve a range of stakeholders, justice organisations and professional users of court services to help us understand the issues and concerns and to inform us of opportunities and ideas before we draw up proposals for the Scottish Court Service Board to consider.

"If these proposals are acceptable to the Board then a three month public consultation will begin in the autumn."