AN URGENT summit is to take place this week between leading Scots legal figures and police to identify and address the "uncertainties" of Brexit on Scotland's justice system.

The special meeting has been called by Justice Secretary Michael Matheson, who will meet with police and lawyers, including Scotland's top prosecutor, Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC, in Edinburgh on Thursday to look at how leaving the European Union could affect law enforcement and criminal justice in Scotland.

Experts from the Scottish Universities Legal Network on Europe and the Standing Council on Europe are also due to attend to help advise on a wide range of legal issues including the possible implications for civil and family law, and commercial issues.

Matheson said: "The UK Brexit vote raises many uncertainties for Scotland's unique justice system. That is why I am bringing together leaders and experts to help us understand these issues – and any steps we can take now to mitigate the risks.

"The cessation of EU membership and single market access would have significant and wide-ranging ramifications from a justice and legal perspective."

The summit will consider thorny issues from tackling cross-border crime through to how someone with an ex-partner in the EU would get child maintenance payments.

He added: "The summit discussions will help inform us of risks like these – and others – as the Scottish Government continues to press for full involvement in all negotiations between the UK Government and the EU."

Meanwhile, senior Tories have urged Theresa May to abandon plans to appeal against a court ruling the High Court’s judgment on the triggering of Article 50.

Former cabinet minister Owen Paterson – who voted for Brexit – joined Remain-backers Oliver Letwin, former attorney general Dominic Grieve and ex-solicitor general Sir Edward Garnier in calling for the Prime Minister to call a halt to the appeal on the Supreme Court's ruling that May must get MPs permission before triggering Article 50 to exit the EU.

The high-profile Tories claimed it would result in "unnecessary" legal confrontation and expense.

Garnier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that scrapping the appeal – and bringing forward a Bill in Parliament – would be the best way forward. "That way you avoid an unnecessary legal row, you avoid a lot of unnecessary expense, but you also avoid an opportunity for ill-motivated people to attack the judiciary, to misconstrue the motives of both parties to the lawsuit, and you provide certainty," he said.

Paterson stressed that it was important that Article 50 should be triggered by April, as promised by the Prime Minister to make Brexit an issue in French, German and Dutch elections next year in the hope that businesses in those countries will lobby for commitments to favourable trade terms with the UK.

It comes after the Scottish and Welsh Governments were given permission to intervene in the Supreme Court hearing, which is expected to start on December 5, with the Lord Advocate invited to address the court on the relevance of points of Scots law.

Yesterday former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond claimed that the Tories were only calling for the appeal to be scrapped to avoid Scottish representation in the Supreme Court.

"Sir Oliver Letwin and Co have now blurted out the true blue Tory attitude towards Scotland," he said. "They would even rather abandon the Brexit appeal than take any chance of the Supreme Court being sensitive to Scottish European concerns.

"Every Tory in Scotland should cringe with embarrassment as the Tory contempt for Scotland’s rights as a nation has been laid bare. The trouble for the Tories in Scotland is that their Westminster colleagues have been caught telling the truth about their anti-Scottish prejudices."

Labour has said it will not attempt to delay or scupper this process if a vote goes ahead. But Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has said his party will vote against triggering Article 50, unless they are promised a second referendum on the UK's Brexit deal with EU leaders. Some Labour MPs have said they are also willing to oppose it.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that consent of the Scottish Parliament should also be sought before Article 50 is triggered.

A spokesman for the Department for the Exit of the European Union said: "The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by an Act of Parliament and the Government is determined to respect that result.

"We will robustly defend our position in the forthcoming appeal. As the Prime Minister made clear (on Friday), our work is on track and we remain committed to triggering Article 50 by the end of March next year."

Businesses are also seeking reassurance that there is a plan in place for the day after Brexit. Paul Drechsler, president of the CBI, will tell the business group's annual conference in London tomorrow that companies wanted a "smooth" Brexit to avoid any "cliff edge" problems.

He will tell 1,000 businessmen and women: "Businesses are inevitably considering the cliff edge scenario – a sudden and overnight transformation in trading conditions. If this happens, firms could find themselves stranded in a regulatory no man's land and, even if our legal obligations are clear and in place, there would also be real, practical implications."