A Scottish Government consultation on the pardoning of miners found guilty of offenses during the 1984-85 strikes shows overwhelming support from responses. Eighty-seven per cent of responses supported pardoning breaches of the peace, and 86% supported pardons in relation to breaches of bail. Miners across the UK went on strike [...]

Figures from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) show collection rates of court fines are beginning to reach pre-pandemic levels. The three-year collection rates for all fine and penalty types have shown improvement, with the rates for Sheriff Court fines by both value paid or on track to be [...]

Appeals on behalf of three men convicted of abduction and rape based on new medical evidence been refused by the High Court of Justiciary. The three men, Brian Meighan, Kevin Kane, and David Pugh, were each sentenced to 6 years imprisonment. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) referred the [...]

A report published by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has found police enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions to have been “fair and proportionate”. The group, chaired by John Scott QC, published the report ahead of a SPA board meeting which took place on the 25th August 2021. Mr Scott hailed Police [...]

The High Court of Justiciary has refused appeals by three men convicted of abduction and rape. Their cases were referred to the court by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.  Brian Meighan, David Pugh and Kevin Kane all received a custodial disposal of 6 years as a result of their [...]

Elizabeth Denham, the UK information Commissioner, recently discussed poor data protection practices and its impact upon society.  Mobile phones store a significant amount of sensitive and private information. This includes medical information, political beliefs, location, financial situation and ethnic origin. As a result, it is crucial that poor data protection [...]

The Sheriff Appeal Court has determined that the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) is under no obligation to pay statutory interest in circumstances where a legal aid account is overdue.  Ormistons Law Practice Ltd raised an action against SLAB seeking a declarator that it was liable to pay statutory interest [...]

Sean Taggart, a prisoner at HMP Grampian, died on the 10th of March 2018 due to complications arising from the use of drugs and alcohol. A sheriff in Peterhead has determined that his death was not the result of an accident or failure by the prison staff.    The deceased [...]

John Deeney was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for indecently assaulting his foster brother when he was a teenager. On appeal at the High Court of Justiciary Mr Deeney argued that the trial judge had misdirected the jury. The judge informed the jury that they could consider evidence of other [...]

New sentencing guidelines have been approved by the High Court of Justiciary, aimed at increasing public knowledge and understanding of sentencing in Scotland. The guidelines have been developed by the Scottish Sentencing Council and set out an eight-step guide courts should follow when reaching sentencing decisions. This includes some of [...]