" class="left_link">» Text Here“Danger drivers face longer prison terms: The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is to increase from 10 to 14 years the Government said today. The new maximum applies throughout Britain and is designed to ensure those who kill can be “properly punished”. . .” Evening Times
Press release
“Dangerous drivers to face tougher sentences: The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving will increase from 10 to 14 years ensuring that those who kill can be properly punished, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced today. The increase will target drivers who kill, be it through driving dangerously, driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs or joyriding. . .” Home Office
See also
Criminal Justice Act 2003. s. 285.
Posted by MM on Fri 27th Feb 2004 at 9:03 pm“Move to curb thugs ‘is threat to off-licences’: A clampdown on anti-social behaviour by shutting off-licences would lead to a cull of corner shops and breach human rights, a leading lawyer has warned. Jack Cummins, one of Scotland’s top licensing lawyers, claimed the scheme, trumpeted by justice minister Cathy Jamieson, could force hundreds of small traders out of business. . .” [url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5024062.html] Evening Times/url]
Posted by MM on Fri 27th Feb 2004 at 9:01 pmTo ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to reduce the number of deaths due to alcohol in Glasgow.
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab)
(WQ 24.2.04)
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25157 by Dr Richard Simpson on 1 May 2002, whether it will provide information on the source of referral recorded by new individual patients attending specialist drug services and reported to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database in (a) the current year and (b) each year since 2001-02.
Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP)
(WQ 24.2.04)
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-1061 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 January 2004 and its news release SEFD 348/2004, whether the £400,000 announced to “help establish a co-located justice centre in Rosetta Road, Peebles” represents additional capital funding or borrowing consent and whether discussions between Lothian and Borders Police and the Executive’s Police Division have now reached a conclusion and, if so, what that conclusion is.
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP)
(WQ 24.2.04)
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive intends introducing random drug testing in schools. (+and 4 related questions)
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD)
(OQ 26.2.04)
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive ensures that projects that specialise in the rehabilitation of young offenders are effective and represent good use of taxpayers’ money. (+ 2 related questions referring to Airborne).
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab)
(FMQ 26.2.04).
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will liaise with mobile phone operators to promote greater awareness of mobile phone theft.
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab)
(OQ 26.2.04)
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average reduction in waiting times for drug treatment services has been in the last year. (+3 related questions).
Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP)
(OQ 26.2.04)
Media
“Drink-drive convictions hit 10-year high: The number of people convicted of drink-driving in Scotland has rocketed to the highest level for a decade, despite years of hard-hitting campaigning on the dangers of getting behind the wheel when over the limit [. . .] The figures support earlier warnings that a new breed of younger motorist - many of them women - are more likely to gamble on driving when drunk than the previous generation . . .” Scotland on Sunday 29.2.04
“Big rise in parking fine revenue: There has been a 40% rise in the amount of cash raised by Scotland’s largest councils from parking fines. . .” BBC
“Windscreen vipers” Daily Record
“Cities rake in ?13m from parking fines” Herald
“Blatant highway robbery” Herald
“Profits roll in from the Mean streets” Herald
Press release
“Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts 2002: Figures released today show that a total of 125,000 convictions in Scottish courts in 2002, 4 per cent more than in 2001. Increases in convictions for crimes such as serious assault, shoplifting, drugs and drunk driving were only partly offset by decreases for crimes such as robbery, other theft and speeding . . .” Scot. Exec.
See also
Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts 2002
Posted by MM on Fri 27th Feb 2004 at 2:10 pm