News

A new pilot project in Scotland, Bairns' Hoose, aims to provide a safe space for children who have been victims of violent and sexual crimes, enabling them to give pre-recorded evidence without the need to visit a police station or court. The scheme is inspired by the Barnehus model from Norway, whe

Russian protest band Pussy Riot suffered degrading treatment at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics when band members were whipped and pepper-sprayed by Cossack security forces, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled. In yesterday's Chamber judgment in the case of Verzilov and Others v. Rus

Registers of Scotland should devote its resources to addressing the backlog of applications instead of 'Unlocking the Sasine', writes the Scottish Law Agents Society. Amanda Cameron of D M Hall provided a timely reminder of the Scottish government target of having all property on the Land Register b

A former Algerian defence minister is to face trial in Switzerland for allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity over his participation in the Algerian civil war, which raged from 1991 to 2002. Khaled Nezzar, 85, served as Algeria's defence minister from 1990 to 1993 and was a member of

Arnot Manderson Advocates' Paul Harvey has co-edited a new legal textbook – Mason’s Forensic Medicine and the Law, Seventh Edition. It is the only book directed at both the legal practitioner and the expert medical witness. It provides unique commentary on the law in all three UK jurisdi

At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, Lord Tyre sentenced Bradley Isherwood to an extended sentence of 13 years, which includes a custodial period of 10 years. Isherwood had been found guilty of rape and sexual assaults against two women and a 14-year-old girl. He has been placed on the Sex Offe

Douglas Strang looks at a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decision in relation to unlawful discrimination. Higgs v Farmor’s School and others relates to an incident which happened as long ago as October 2018 and it is a separate matter of concern that it has taken the best part of five

Advocate Thomas Ross KC has said the backlog in Scotland’s court system could result in civil action against the Scottish government for violating the human rights of accused persons. Mr Ross said that the Crown Office should consider a more “creative” strategy to address the exist

More work is required on reducing alcohol-related harm, drugs and alcohol policy minister Elena Whitham has said. Ms Whitham reaffirmed the Scottish government’s focus on measures to tackle alcohol abuse, as the latest statistics show a small rise in deaths caused by alcohol.

A TV news crew preparing to film a segment about a rise in armed robberies was robbed at gunpoint yesterday. TV network Univision said its reporter and cameraman were preparing to film in Chicago on Monday morning when they were suddenly approached by three armed and masked men in two vehicles.

As the General Register of Sasines approaches the end of its 400-year reign, big decisions lie ahead for property and land owners, writes Amanda Cameron. Scotland’s General Register of Sasines is the oldest national land register of property interests in the world, having been established

Harper Macleod has advised the Dallas family on the investment into Ross-shire Engineering Limited (RSE) by private equity firm MML. Harper Macleod has acted for RSE, and the Dallas family, since September 2006 supporting them throughout various stages of their business journey, including the phased

Burness Paull has reported its results for the financial year ended 31 July 2023. Annual turnover was up six per cent to £83.2 million (2021/2022: £78.6m) and profit was £35.5m (2021/2022: £35.7m).

There has been a lack of progress on human rights protections for disabled people in Scotland and the UK, a UN committee has been told. The Scottish Human Rights Commission told the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Geneva that disabled people requi

South Lanarkshire Council has been fined £90,000 for health and safety failings which left a worker with severe injuries. The local authority pled guilty to a charge under health and safety legislation at Hamilton Sheriff Court after a road worker suffered a traumatic amputation when his arm w