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the Press Release Index
28th September 2009
Johnstone Welcomes Fall in Fiscal Fine Use at Stonehaven
MSP Alex Johnstone has welcomed a drop in
fiscal fines for assault and assault to injury at
Stonehaven.
Figures issued by the Scottish Government
have revealed that in the four month period between February
and May this year, 5 out of 29 reported charges for assault
were dealt with by way of a fiscal fine, and 1 out of 20
assault to injury charges attracted the same penalty. In
August this year however, just 1 out of 15 assaults and none
of the 3 assault to injury reports were dealt with by a
fiscal fine.
In the City of Aberdeen, during the four
month period, 29 fiscal fines were issued out of 566
reported charges of assault, and, 7 fiscal fines were issued
out of 316 charges of assault to injury.
In August alone, out of 178 cases of
assault, 10 were dealt with by way of a direct measure and 2
cases of assault to injury out of 58 also attracted a fiscal
fine in Aberdeen.
Mr Johnstone, who has previously expressed
concern at the use of fiscal fines said "When direct
measures were introduced by the Scottish Government, we were
told that they would be used only in very minor crimes, in
order to free up court time for more serious cases."
"Where a fiscal fine is used, the accused is
not required to attend court, is liable to end up with only
a modest fine, and does not even receive a criminal record."
"This might be appropriate for some
offences, but where an individual has been injured in a
violent assault, I don't think it is acceptable that their
assailant is effectively given a 'get out of court free'
card."
"A violent assault can leave someone with
not just physical injuries, it can also lead to a loss of
self confidence and mental health issues that can remain,
often undiagnosed for some time. Meanwhile, their assailant
gets a feeble fine that they can pay off in easy instalments
in a ridiculous 'punch now, pay later' scenario."
"Violent crime remains a very real concern
in our communities, and the use of direct measures in
dealing with it, sends out entirely the wrong message to
both criminals and the rest of the community."
The local Conservative candidate concluded
by saying, "Justice must be done, and just as importantly,
it must be seen to be done, and I am glad to see that no
cases of assault to injury were dealt with by a fiscal fine
in Stonehaven during August. I would urge the judiciary to
ensure that violent criminals are obliged face the full
force of the law."
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