Inverness Justice Centre to be established

Details of investment in the new Inverness Justice Centre were unveiled within the Scottish budget.

The Scottish government will invest £5 million in 2016-17 towards the development of this new collaborative centre which will bring together justice and other bodies and provide a hub for justice technology. This will also free up the iconic Castle building for other uses.

The development is intended to create a stronger community justice approach by co-locating justice partners and third sector organisations in the same building and will provide services for offenders as well as creating specialist facilities and support for victims and witnesses of domestic abuse, sexual violence and child abuse.

The design of the new centre is now underway with a projected completion date of three years.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson (pictured) said: “By working with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to create a justice centre and co-locating the court with other justice partners, the people of Inverness and the wider highlands have access to modern facilities and co-ordinated support and service from the relevant organisations.

“We know this is a development that works – a similar example in Livingston has been hugely successful – and I look forward to the positive impact this will have for our communities across the Highland and beyond.”

The relocation of Inverness court to the centre is paving the way for the development of Inverness Castle as an important new tourism attraction for the Highlands.

Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing added: “The court’s relocation from Inverness Castle brings an exciting opportunity to develop a major new tourism attraction in the Highlands.

“The working group which I co-chair has helped develop a number of proposals currently out for public consultation and this announcement adds a renewed focus to the process of developing what could be a world class tourism attraction.”