Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975

303 Caution and bail

(1) With regard to the finding, forfeiture, and recovery of caution in any proceedings under this Part of this Act the following provisions shall apply:—

(a) caution may be found by consignation of the amount with the clerk of court, or by bond of caution, which bond may be signed by the mark of the cautioner;

(b) where caution becomes liable to forfeiture, forfeiture may be granted by the court on the motion of the prosecutor, and, where necessary, warrant granted for the recovery thereof;

(c) in the event of any cautioner failing to pay the amount due under his bond within six days after he has received a charge to that effect, the court may order him to be imprisoned for the maximum period applicable in pursuance of section 407 of this Act to that amount or until payment is made; or the court, if it shall adjudge it expedient, may on the application of the cautioner grant time for payment or may instead of imprisonment order recovery by civil diligence in accordance with section 411 of this Act.

(2) Bail may be found and forfeited, and the like procedure shall be competent in default of payment thereof as is hereinbefore provided with regard to caution; and any bail found shall continue in force until the final determination of the case or until the expiry of six months from the date when such bail is found, whichever shall first occur, notwithstanding that the diets may have been from time to time continued or deserted pro loco et tempore, or not called :

Provided that the cautioner shall be entitled to withdraw his bond of caution at any diet of the court at which the accused appears personally.

(3) Where, instead of being liberated on bail, the accused in a summary prosecution is liberated under a penalty in the event of his failure to appear at any future diet, and such penalty is declared to be forfeited, the amount thereof may be added to any other penalty subsequently imposed on him, or the court may pronounce a separate finding in respect of such penalty and may grant warrant for the imprisonment of the accused in the event of non-payment thereof.