Scots and the law

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 19

Scots and the law

“The difference between Scottish law and English law is that Scottish law is concerned with justice and English law with law.” That remark, naturally enough, was made by a Scot. But there’s more than a grain of truth in it as followers of the 8.8.C.’s “Sutherlands Law” will know by now. Derived from Roman Law, Scotland’s legal system has more in common with that prevailing on the continent of Europe than with that of the rest of the United Kingdom.

The office of Procurator Fiscal is not unlike that of an examining magistrate, although his duties are more limited. Fie decides whether a criminal case should be brought before a Sheriff’s Court, where the maximum sentence is two years. More serious offences, like murder and treason, are not his concern. In John Sutherland’s case he has held office for 25 years in Glendoran and knows the people of the area so well that he can usually tell at a glance

which cases presented to him should go to court. Glendoran is in fact the town of Oban in Argyll and the scenery of the highlands and islands for which it is railhead and port make this a series of outstanding pictorial quality.

Argyll is an area of seasonal workers and of tourists from all over the world, and this, too, is often reflected in the storeis. The scenery is also reflected in the title music for which TVl’s pro-

gramme staff receive several queries a day. The tune is “Land Of Mountain and Flood” composed by Hamish MacGunn and played by the Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Alexander Gibson.