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There was a five per cent rise in sexual crimes compared to last year, new figures from Scotland's chief statistician show. In the year ending June 2025 the police in Scotland recorded 303,343 crimes. This was one per cent higher than the 300,078 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2024, and one

Police Scotland has run internal training courses to support officers with reading, writing, statement-taking and everyday speech, prompting concerns about the calibre of new recruits. A freedom of information request by The Herald confirmed the training was delivered in collaboration with SEMPER Sc

The Crown Office has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the death of Alistair Iain Campbell. Mr Campbell, 63, an HGV driver and operator who traded as Alistair Campbell Haulage, died on 15 July 2024 at his operating centre in Glen Mor, Invergarry

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) will launch its next manifesto on 6 September. The document serves as a roadmap to achieve the changes sought by young people across the country over the next five years, with the next edition to be launched at the upcoming sitting, SYP’s annual gathering fo

This year’s Glasgow Legal Walk will place on Wednesday 24 September 2025. The annual charity event coordinated by the Access To Justice Foundation encourages members and supporters of the legal community to walk to raise money for much-needed local advice centres. The walk will be great fun, o

The Law Society of Scotland is to establish a new committee to oversee its international work. The committee will advise on international activities, including the society’s relations with EU institutions and other bars and law societies around the globe, as well as raising awareness about the

The Appeal Court of the High Court of Justiciary is to become the first criminal court in Scotland with a regular livestreaming service, allowing hearings to be viewed online by the public. Solemn (jury) criminal appeals will be livestreamed from 29 August, improving access, openness, and transparen

A federal judge has ordered the closure of Donald Trump’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention camp in Florida, ruling that the facility is causing severe and irreparable damage to the Everglades. US district judge Kathleen Williams issued an 82-page ruling banning new detain

The United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women and girls has called for all member states to ban surrogacy. Reem Alsalem has published a new report calling for states to move towards the total prohibition of surrogacy in all forms, while also raising significant concerns about the p

Health experts have called for new regulations after a family-friendly restaurant accidentally served cannabis-infused pizza to nearly 100 customers. A "mass intoxication event" took place at Famous Yeti's Pizza in Wisconsin in October 2024, according to a paper recently published in a US health jou

Yesterday marked four years since the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force. The legislation, brought forward by Labour MSP Daniel Johnson and backed by the SRC, Trades Union, and retailers, aimed to start tackling the abuse many sho

The UK government is planning a major shake-up of the asylum appeals system in a bid to reduce the number of migrants being housed in hotels while they await rulings. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she would establish a new body staffed by independent adjudicators to address what she called &ldqu

Tens of thousands of offenders in England and Wales, including sex offenders, shoplifters, drug dealers and violent criminals, will avoid prison under sweeping sentencing reforms to be put before Parliament next month. The Sentencing Bill will require judges to presume against custodial sentences of

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has dramatically increased the number of appeals against sentences judged to be too soft. Figures obtained by The Sunday Times show a 500 per cent rise over the past decade in appeals brought by the lord advocate on the grounds that sentences were unduly lenient.

The Crown Office has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the death of 57-year-old Francis Docherty. He died on 23 January 2022 within HMP Perth.