Brown urges caution on SNP's secret tribunal plans

5.00.45pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Jul 2010

Commenting on reports that the Scottish Government is considering “secret tribunals” to stop organised crime, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP said:

"These proposals raise all sorts of issues which are alien to the Scottish judicial system. We need more information about how they would work in practice.

"Our justice system is set up to protect civil liberties. All should be guaranteed the right to a free and fair trial.

"Liberal Democrats are strongly supportive of legitimate moves to tackle the serious problem of organised criminals such as drug and people traffickers.

"The Scottish Government needs, however, to be extremely cautious about this direction of travel towards secret courts because of the impact on civil liberties."