Swifter justice, less time wasted by everyone involved in the criminal justice process and less stress for victims and witnesses have resulted from a pioneering project in West Lothian.

The average end-to-end time from caution and charge to final determination on any general case has been cut from 150 days to 59, 21 weeks down to eight. The end-to-end time for cases marked for court has fallen from 197 days to 94 and non-court disposals have been cut from 100 days to 36 days.

Seventy per cent of all cases are concluded within 13 weeks, tendering of pleas for first diets has risen from 50% to 83%, submission of police reports within 28 days has risen from 57% to 83%.

The dramatic improvements are revealed in the final report of the West Lothian Criminal Justice Project which is released today (Tuesday, May 29, 2007). The project is unique in Scotland and its findings meet many of the requirements of the Summary Justice Review Committee Report 2004

The results have been so encouraging that an extended pilot will now take place in Edinburgh.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill said: 'Improving the way the criminal justice system operates must be about improving the experience for ordinary members of the public as well as the professionals.

'The West Lothian Criminal Justice Project is a welcome example of just such a constructive approach.

'The project has proved to be of benefit to victims and witnesses - the people we need to keep foremost in our minds when designing and implementing court reforms. The challenge for us all is to work together to improve the courts at a local level all across Scotland.'

The project involved all parties in the Criminal Justice System being involved in analysing what they do, how they do it and how it relates to the processes and procedures of partner agencies.

These included Lothian and Borders Police, The Scottish Courts Service, The Crown Office/Procurator Fiscal Service, West Lothian Council and the local Bar Association in West Lothian.

The work was commissioned by the Lothian and Borders Criminal Justice Board in June 2004 to try to improve the summary justice process through a Systems Thinking methodology.

The Chair of the Board, Sheriff Principal Edward F. Bowen QC, said in a foreword to the report: 'The achievements of this project are remarkable.'

Sheriff Principal Bowen said critically important was the fact that the approach required all participants in the criminal justice system to become involved in the change process. He added: 'Not only are the quantitative results remarkable but staff throughout the system are positive and confident about the changes and do not want to return to the previous arrangements.'

The project board was chaired by Mr Colin Peebles, Director of Corporate Services of Lothian and Borders Police, who said: 'What this has achieved is swifter justice and a more efficient process which benefits the whole. An offender is dealt with more quickly and is stopped from committing further offences in the interim. Witnesses give their evidence more quickly after an incident which cuts the time they spend worrying about going to court and allowing them to give evidence while it is fresher in their minds.

'The number of scheduled appearances is also reduced and that reduces the demand on prosecutor, defence lawyers, police and courts staff.

'The method we used ensured that every element of the criminal justice system was involved in reviewing the whole process and rather than just their own part. Everyone from the reporting police officer through to defence lawyers, social workers and Sheriffs have adapted to new ways of working for the benefit of all.

'Traditionally they had their own responsibilities and processes which were out of bounds for the others but the remarkable outcome shows what can be achieved by a genuine commitment to working together for the good of the community and the justice system.'

Mr Peebles also praised the drive and energy of Project Manager Eileen Flockhart who led the team at the working level through the systems thinking process.