Court / Sheriff demands explanation why prisoner missed plane north
SHERIFF Ian Cruickshank has said that he would not accept Shetland being treated to a second-rate service after proceedings at Lerwick Sheriff Court were delayed when GEOAmey prison escort staff missed their scheduled flight from Aberdeen on Wednesday morning.
The sheriff said that he was not entirely clear if there had been a failure in delivery of the service but it was “not the first time a prisoner in custody had been delayed or missed flights” when being brought to court.
He added: “I am not prepared to allow Shetland to receive a second rate service under a public service contract.”
The sheriff said that his comments were not directed at local GEOAmey staff who fulfilled their duties in a competent manner.
One female prisoner had been wakened at 3am at HMP Grampian in Peterhead and arrived at the airport around 6am for a 6.30am flight. This had given airport staff insufficient time to put the prisoners through security.
The woman ended up in the transport van for six hours, at first being given “some form of bag” to urinate in, before she was escorted to a proper toilet.
The prisoners were flown up on a later 9.15am flight. It was 12 hours before the woman was dealt with in court from her early awakening.
Sheriff Cruickshank instructed the court clerk to write to GEOAmey to seek an explanation for the delay.
If you have been affected by crime, help is available. Whether you are victim, a witness, or the accused, you can find independent, impartial, and confidential support in Shetland.
For victims of general crime:
Victim Support Shetland
Phone: 01595744524 or 0800 1601985
Web: https://victimsupport.scot/locations/victim-support-shetland/
Email: VictimSupportHighlandsIslands@victimsupportsco.org.uk
For anyone affected by crime & harm seeking a restorative approach:
Space2face
Phone: 07564 832467
Web: https://www.space2face.org
Email: info@space2face.org
For anyone affected by gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual assault, and rape:
Shetland Women’s Aid
Phone: 01595 692070
Web: https://www.shetlandwa.org
Email: office@shetlandwa.org
The Compass Centre (Shetland Rape Crisis)
Phone: 01595 744402 or 08088 010302
Web: https://www.compasscentre.org
Email: contact@compasscentre.org
For anyone affected by substance use:
Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network
Phone: 01595 744402
Web: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075791869200
Email: recoveryhub@shetland.gov.uk
Shetland Alcohol & Drug Partnership
Phone: 01595 743060 or 07342 077789
Web: https://shetlandadp.org.uk
Email: shet.sadp@nhs.scot
Substance Use Recovery Service
Phone: 01595 743006
