Social work staff in Wick 'unable to cope', sheriff warns
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A sheriff has commented on the pressure criminal justice staff in Wick are under to produce background reports on offenders.
Sheriff Mark Lindsay believes that the office has indicated that its workload means they are currently only able to prepare and write a court report if "absolutely necessary".
He was speaking from the bench at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday after a young Caithness man pleaded guilty by letter to three charges he committed during a trip to South Ronaldsay.
Michael Cowie admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at an address in St Margaret's Hope on June 10.
The 35-year-old, of Karrian, Clashvalley Road, Dunbeath, stated that he wanted to harm himself and shouted, grunted and growled at a female, who lived there.
Cowie also admitted threatening or abusive conduct by shouting and swearing at police and resisting arrest by struggling and locking his arms together in a bid to prevent being handcuffed.
Deferring sentence until September 13 for a personal appearance, Sheriff Lindsay said that given Cowie's lack of record, he would not order a community justice social work report.
The sheriff added: "I don't know how it is in Kirkwall but in Wick the social work department are unable to cope and have expressed the view that only if it's absolutely necessary that they be asked to produce a report."
