Ayr Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

Coronavirus - COVID19
Please check here for the latest information

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Hub courts

Important arrangements during the Coronavirus outbreak

Hub Courts for new, first instance custodies

This is one of the 16 Hub courts in Scotland dealing with new, first instance custodies. If the person appearing from police custody, has, or is suspected of having, Covid-19 he/she will attend via video link from a police facility. Where possible, video appearance will be extended to other accused.

Those accused currently in custody in one of Scotland’s Prisons having an appearance at court will generally ‘appear’ in court by video link.

Facilities are available for agents to act remotely. See Guidance in relation to remote hearings – attendance by electronic means for custody cases.

General information

This court is open for business, but please note the following arrangements at this time.

This court is only open to staff, judiciary, those with permanent office accommodation, media or parties who are directly involved in cases being heard in the building and who have been requested to attend at court.

Where court cases require personal appearance, intimation will have been made to parties in advance of the court date.

There is no public counter and members of the public will not be permitted to enter, unless requested by the court.

Fines can be paid online and by phone. See Fines Payment for latest information.

Sheriffdom orders during Coronavirus

The following Sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes apply to this court.

Please also refer to the Rules and Practice section of the website.

Sheriffdom orders during Coronavirus

The following Sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes apply to this court.

Please also refer to the Rules and Practice section of the website.

Ayr Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court is within the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde Dumfries & Galloway serving a population of approximately 120,000 people within the districts of South Ayrshire and wards 21 to 30 of East Ayrshire.

The courthouse is centrally located within the town centre and was formally opened in 1822 Over the years the building has been extended and in 2010 the Justice of the Peace Court was established in the same building.

Visiting Ayr Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court - Word version
Visiting Ayr Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court - PDF version

Contact details

Postal address

Sheriff Court House,
Wellington Square,
Ayr,
KA7 1EE

Main telephone

01292 292 200

Sheriff Clerk / Main contact

Tricia Meiklejohn

DX

AY 16

Fax

01292 292249

All commissary work carried out

Email

ayr@scotcourts.gov.uk

Accessibility contact

If you require the support of an interpreter when you contact a court (by phone or attend in person), a telephone interpretation service is available.  To access this service ask for telephone interpreting and the language required. This service is NOT available during actual court proceedings.

If you use British Sign Language (BSL) and wish to phone us using a sign language interpreter, you can use the online video relay interpreting service. For more information see the contactSCOTLAND website. www.contactscotland-bsl.org

Directions

Wellington Square is located close to the seafront and is well served by public transport.

Use the journey planner for public transportation information.

By bus

Ayr bus station is approximately 200 yards from the courthouse at Sandgate.

By rail

Ayr train station is approximately half a mile from the courthouse off Burns Statute Square. Visit ScotRail or National Rail Enquiries for train times.

By car

There is no public car parking available at the court house. There are a number of pay and display, on-street, parking places in Wellington Square and surrounding streets. The nearest long stay car park is at Charlotte Street.

By taxi

The main taxi rank is situated at the train station with a small rank located close to the bus station at Sandgate.

By air

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is approximately 15 minutes by road and is well served by local bus services. A rail link to the airport is available.

On arrival

When you arrive at the courts please report to the reception desk in the main hall. There are notice boards and a plasma screen in the main foyer showing in which court a case is calling. There are 5 courtrooms in Ayr , Courts 1, 2, 3 and 4 are located upstairs, Court 5 is on the ground floor.

If you are attending for jury duty please come to the main reception where you will be directed to the courtroom.

If you have a physical disability we have provided as a separate disabled ramp access and there is lift access to the first and second floors.

If you have hearing difficulties you can access sound enhancement facilities during court proceedings using a "Loop system"

If English is not your first language we can speak with you by using our interpreting service Language Line.

A range of our documents and leaflets are available on request in other languages, in large print or Braille or as a recording.

Should you have any other personal requirements not mentioned above, we will consider all reasonable requests and take practical steps to meet them.

Facilities

Hospital Volunteers supply light refreshments in the courthouse between 09:30 and 12 noon. There are many shops and restaurants within 5 minutes walk from the court house.

If you are sitting on a jury, lunch and refreshments will be provided for you if the court sits into the afternoon.

A loop induction service is available in all courtrooms for people who have hearing difficulties. Please contact the office manager if you require using this facility.

Pay a Fine

Pay a fine online or come to the reception and you will be directed to the fines payment office.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service also accepts the following forms of payment:

• Please make cheques and postal orders payable to "Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service"

Send by post to:

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Central Processing Unit, PO Box 23, Glasgow, G5 9DA

• Debit Card - Please note that we accept debit cards and Credit Cards.
• Cash - Accepted at the counter in the Court House. If paying by post it is not advisable to make cash payments.
• By Telephone - Call 01292 292200.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your fine or compensation order, or should you have any difficulties paying your fine please contact the fines enforcement officer on: 01292 292205 or ayr@scotcourts.gov.uk

Opening times

Mon - Thurs 09:00 - 17:00, Fri 09:00 - 16:30.

Please note that the offices may be closed at times for staff training. Details of this are published in advance in the court building and on this website.

Public Holidays

2020
January 1, 2

April 10, 13

May 8

August 3

September 21

October 12

November 30

December 25, 28

Complaints

Please refer to the complaints and feedback page.

Useful Links

• Procurator Fiscal
• Victim Support Scotland
• Scottish Prison Service
• Office of the Public Guardian
• Scottish Children's Reporter
• South Ayrshire Council
• Police Scotland