Perth Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

• About the court
• Accessibility
• Complaints and feedback
• Contact the court
• Court Rolls
• Difficulty using the phone
• Directions to court
• Facilities
• Justice of the Peace (JP) Signings
• Latest covid-19 information
• New, first instance custodies
• On arrival
• Opening times
• Pay a fine
• Public holidays
• Sheriffdom orders
• Useful websites

About the court

Perth Sheriff Court House is an imposing listed building situated on the banks of the river Tay. The building, designed by London architect Sir Robert Smirke, was built in 1819 and stands on the site of Gowrie House, the place where a plot to kill King James VI was hatched in 1600.

There are currently 5 court rooms with 3 resident Sheriffs. The Sheriffs and the Sheriff Clerk's staff deal with a variety of business which fall into the categories of Criminal, Civil and Commissary. The JP Court is dealt with by a Justice of the Peace, a Legal Advisor and a Clerk.

Contact the court

Postal address

Sheriff Court House
Tay Street
Perth
PH2 8NL

Sheriff Clerk

Neil Rawlings

Email

perth@scotcourts.gov.uk

DX

PE20

Phone

01738 620546

• Option 1 – Criminal enquiries
• Option 2 – Fines and Jury enquiries
• Option 3 – Commissary enquiries
• Option 4 – Simple Procedure and Summary Cause enquiries
• Option 5 – Civil enquiries
  

Jury helplines

• Sheriff - 01738 492858
• High Court - 01738 492859

Difficulty using the phone

Phone interpreter

A phone interpreter service is available when you contact a court by phone or attend in person. To access this service ask for phone interpreter and the language required.

The phone interpreter service is not available during actual court proceedings.

Text relay service

If you are deaf, have hearing loss or are speech impaired you can contact us for free with Relay UK.

British Sign Language (BSL)

If you use British Sign Language (BSL) and wish to phone us using a sign language interpreter, you can use the online video relay interpreting service. For more information see the Contact Scotland BSL website.

Opening times

The Sheriff Clerk's office is open as follows:

• Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 17:00
• Friday from 09:00 to 16:30

The Sheriff Clerk's office is closed from 14:00 to 17:00 on:

• Tuesday, 6 February 2024
• Tuesday, 5 March 2024
• Tuesday, 2 April 2024
• Tuesday, 7 May 2024
• Tuesday, 4 June 2024
• Tuesday, 2 July 2024
• Tuesday, 6 August 2024
• Tuesday, 3 September 2024
• Tuesday, 1 October 2024
• Tuesday, 5 November 2024
• Tuesday, 3 December 2024

For urgent matters and applications when the office is closed please contact:

Forfar Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Phone: 01307 46218
Email: forfar@scotcourts.gov.uk

Public holidays

2024

• January 1, 2
• March 29
• April 1
• May 6, 27
• July 22
• October 7
  
• December 2, 25, 26

New, first instance custodies

New, first instance custody cases will be heard in all eight Tayside, Central and Fife Sheriff and Justice of the Peace (JP) Courts:

• Alloa Sheriff and JP Court
• Stirling Sheriff and JP Court
• Falkirk Sheriff and JP Court
• Dunfermline Sheriff and JP Court
• Kirkcaldy Sheriff and JP Court
• Perth Sheriff and JP Court
• Dundee Sheriff and JP Court
• Forfar Sheriff and JP Court

Unless the above court is closed for a public holiday, where by the following hub courts will be in operation:

• Falkirk Sheriff and JP Court (covers Alloa, Stirling and Falkirk custodies)
• Kirkcaldy Sheriff and JP Court (covers Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy custodies)
• Dundee Sheriff and JP Court (covers Perth, Dundee and Forfar custodies)

Justice of the Peace (JP) Signings

Justice of the Peace (JP) Signings by appointment only. Please book an appointment in advance by phoning the Sheriff Clerk’s Office.

Directions to court

The Court is located on Tay Street, near the Queens Bridge, close to the town centre and accessible by public transport.  All day metered parking is available at the South Inch car park, this is a 5 minute walk from the court house.  The entrance is located via Shore Road. Short stay metered car parking available at the rear of the court building, accessed via South Street or Canal Street.

By Bus

Buses stop on Princes Street, Canal Street and at Perth Bus Station which is situated in Leonard Street.  All of these locations are approximately a 10 minute walk from the Courthouse.

Various bus companies operate service to and from Perth, please check local timetables or check the Traveline Scotland website. Alternatively call Traveline Scotland on 0871 200 2233.

By Rail

Perth Railway Station is located on Leonard Street which is approximately a 10 minute walk from the Courthouse.  Timetable information can be obtained from Scotrail or National Rail Enquiries.

Taxi

The nearest taxi rank to the Courthouse is located outside Tesco Metro, South Street. This is a 5 minute walk from the Courthouse.

On arrival

On arrival please report to the main reception desk in the building through the front door and turn to the immediate right.

Jurors in jury cases

If you are attending for jury service please have your citation information readily available when checking in at front entrance reception and you will directed to the appropriate court. If you are serving on a jury a light lunch will be provided at a local hotel nearby.

Facilities

Water is available to the public. There are several restaurants close to the court house.

Accessibility

Accessible hearing

A loop induction service is available in all courtrooms for people who have hearing difficulties.

Accessible access

Full access for any wheelchair users or persons with prams/pushchairs is available via a ramp adjacent to the front entrance of the building on Tay Street.

Sheriffdom orders

The following Sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes apply to this court. Please also refer to the Rules of Court and the Sheriffs Principal Guidance.