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News about criminal justice in Scotland
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Latest Justice News From the Scottish Government
Appointment of part-time sheriff
New appointment to the office of part-time sheriff.
National drug deaths database
Social and medical history of every person whose life is lost to drugs will be recorded in Scotland.
Police recruitment
Justice Secretary meets new recruits.
CjScotland News Log
Friday, January 23, 2004
Cannabis: the situation in Scotland
Update
“Drugs expert?s warning over cannabis move: A leading Scottish drugs expert has voiced grave concerns about the reclassification of cannabis. . .” Herald
“Maybe we?ve got it wrong: If truth is the first casualty of war, then confusion, it seems, is the first consequence of changing the drug laws. . .” Herald. Article by Prof. Neil McKegany.
“Dangers of cannabis: how to speak to your children about it” Herald. Features.
“Howard promises to reverse relaxation of laws against cannabis use” Scotsman
“No turning a blind eye to cannabis?warning” Courier
Following posted 22.1.04 at 4.22pm.
Media
“No ‘blind eye’ to cannabis users: Scottish police will not turn a blind eye to cannabis use when it is downgraded to a Class C drug, Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry has said. He denied the home secretary’s move to downgrade the drug from Class B sent out a conflicting message. . .” BBC
“A mixed up message: From next week, cannabis will be reclassified from a class B to a class C drug. Next week the Government will also launch a major public information campaign to warn people that the drug remains illegal. . .” Evening News
“?No blind eye’ on cannabis use: Scottish police will not turn a blind eye to cannabis use when it is downgraded next week to a Class C drug, deputy justice minister Hugh Henry insisted today. . .” Evening Times
“Minds all gone to pot? Herald. Feature.
Press Release
“Amendment to drug laws: Possession of cannabis will remain a criminal offence in spite of reclassification next week to Class C, Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said today. At the end of next week, cannabis will be reclassified from a Class B to a Class C drug. But to coincide with the reclassification date, a public information campaign, under the Know the Score banner, to reinforce the message that it remains a criminal offence will get under way across Scotland. . .” Scot. Exec.
See also
Know the Score: Cannabis Leaflet.
Drug Misuse Scotland news pages (with full links).
Posted by MM on Fri 23rd Jan 2004 at 2:29 pm
Drugs and alcohol • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
Lord Advocate suppports Supreme Court proposals
Update
“Lord advocate ?crossed line into politics?: Donald Findlay, QC, one of Scotland’s most renowned advocates, yesterday criticised Colin Boyd, the lord advocate, for being too political in his views of the proposed UK supreme court. . .” Herald
Following posted on 22.1.04 at 4.19pm.
“Law chief defends supreme court plans: The Lord Advocate last night issued a robust defence of controversial proposals to replace the House of Lords with a supreme court. . .” Scotsman
“Top lawman condemns judges in supreme court row: Three of Scotland’s most senior legal figures were involved in an unprecedented public dispute last night over the proposed UK supreme court. . .” Herald
Press Release
“Modernising the legal system:?A modern solution for a modern government? was how the Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC summed up proposals for the establishment of a UK Supreme Court. The Lord Advocate today presented the case for the establishment of a Supreme Court at a Law Society of Scotland event focusing on proposed constitutional reforms . . .” Scot. Exec.
“Scots plan for Supreme Court backed” Evening News
Press Release
“The Case for the Supreme Court: Lecture to the Law Society of Scotland by the Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC. 21.1.04.
[. . .]The establishment of a Supreme Court for the United Kingdom is, I believe, a logical and welcome step in the modernisation of our constitution and our legal system.
[. . .] I do not propose to spend much time discussing the question of whether criminal appeals should be able to be taken to the new Supreme Court. They never have gone beyond the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. The United Kingdom Government is not suggesting that they should go to the new Supreme Court. . .” Scot. Exec.
See also
Posted by MM on Fri 23rd Jan 2004 at 2:28 pm
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Scottish Police Federation backs Antisocial Behaviour Bill: except powers of dispersal
Update 26.1.04
“Antisocial bill faces setback: A central plank of Jack McConnell?s antisocial behaviour legislation is to be thrown out by MSPs who fear that it would allow police to take action against people guilty of nothing more than gossiping outside their homes [. . .] But MSPs on two influential Scottish parliament committees say the powers are heavy-handed and are set to vote them down, delivering a damaging blow to the first minister?s crusade against ?ned? culture. . .” Sunday Times
Update 23.1.04
“Police chief welcomes under-16 tagging plan: Plans to force parents to take responsibility for their children and extend electronic tagging to under-16s has been welcomed by Tayside chief constable John Vine. . .” Courier
Update
“Blitz ‘will Creat Ghetto For Neds’: Controversial plans to crack down on neds would create lawless ghettos where thugs would flock for’’ sport’’, police warned yesterday. They told MSPs the Executive’s flagship Anti-Social Behaviour Bill could make life worse for people in the country’s toughest estates. . .” Daily Record
Also
“Scots shop workers ‘threatened every day’ : Thugs and drug addicts are terrorising shopkeepers nationwide with attacks on staff a daily occurrence, a Holyrood committee heard yesterday. . .” Scotsman
Following posted on 21.1.04 at 4.42pm.
“Police alert on trouble blackspots:Named trouble spots could become a magnet for young tearaways, MSPs were warned today. Doug Keil, of the Police Federation, told them that powers proposed under the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill ran the risk of attracting troublemakers to known hotspots. . .” Evening Times
Communities Committee. Papers for meeting of 21.1.04.
Posted by MM on Fri 23rd Jan 2004 at 1:54 am
Antisocial Behaviour Legislation • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
Thursday, January 22, 2004
CCTV continues to spread: railway stations in Lothians
“?2m station work in bid to fight crime: Up to ?2 million is to be spent on CCTV and customer information systems at rail stations across the Lothians in a bid to tackle crime. Rail chiefs announced today that 24-hour CCTV will be fitted to stations in the Lothians - including three in Edinburgh - to boost security for rail passengers. . .” Evening News
Posted by MM on Thu 22nd Jan 2004 at 10:20 pm
Crime Prevention CCTV • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
Crimestoppers beat call record in 2002
“Crime line rings up record calls: A record number of calls were made to the Crimestoppers telephone line in Scotland last year. Most of those who contacted the charity did not take the reward on offer for their assistance. . .” BBC
See also
“Calling time on crime” Strathclyde Police
Posted by MM on Thu 22nd Jan 2004 at 10:13 pm
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School students petition Parliament on sentencing for violence
Update
“Young people must be heard: MSPs: MSPS yesterday called for the views of young people to be taken into account on sentencing policy after a heartfelt plea by Fife schoolchildren. . .” Courier
“Learn from Us” Daily Record
Following posted on 21.1.04 at 8:44am,
“Angry pupils demand action on violent crime: Angry Fife schoolchildren have organised one of the biggest petitions ever seen at the Scottish Parliament?demanding a crackdown on violent crime. A delegation from St Columba?s High School, Dunfermline, will meet MSPs on Parliament?s petitions committee today calling for a review of sentencing policy on violent crime. . .” Courier.
“Pupils seek more child protection: Three school pupils have urged politicians to support tougher sentences for crimes against children. The girls, led by Sarah Ner and joined by their teacher, told the Scottish Parliament that young people should have a say in sentencing policy. . .” BBC
Posted by MM on Thu 22nd Jan 2004 at 1:44 pm
Sentencing • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Executive argues that police wrong about Antisocial Bill costings
“Officials dismiss police fears on bill: The Scottish Executive yesterday re-opened its row with the police over proposed anti-social behaviour laws by dismissing warnings over the cost of the planned legislation as “misleading”. Executive officials also claimed that the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) had missed “fundamental points” in its concerns about how much the new measures would cost. . .” Scotsman
Finance Committee. Official Report of meeting 20.1.04
Posted by MM on Wed 21st Jan 2004 at 3:04 pm
Antisocial Behaviour Legislation • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
Lord Advocate bans under age alcohol entrapment
“Stop the Stings: Police stings that use youngsters to trap shops selling booze to under-age kids have been banned by Scotland’s top law officer. The order from Lord Advocate Colin Boyd follows a Record expose on the scourge of teenie tipplers. The law lord’s stance flies in the face of the First Minister’s promise to blitz under-age liquor sales and the problems they cause. . .” Daily Record
See also
“Child thugs force OAPs to buy booze: Vulnerable pensioners on a troubled Capital estate are being intimidated into buying alcohol for children as young as 13. . .” Evening News
Posted by MM on Wed 21st Jan 2004 at 2:57 pm
Children and justice Drugs and alcohol Police • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
Reported crime falls on Tayside
“Tayside crime figures drop: Tayside crime figures have dropped while detection rates have risen, according to statistics released yesterday. Welcoming the trends, Chief Constable John Vine describes the figures for the last nine months of 2003 as ?encouraging? [. . .] According to Mr Vine, the policy of targeting a hard core of repeat offenders has been bearing dividends in terms of detection. . .” Courier
Posted by MM on Wed 21st Jan 2004 at 2:54 pm
Crime data Recording crime • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Replica firearms and air weapons provisions into effect
“Lothians police draw guns four times per week: Armed police draw their weapons an average of four times a week in the Lothians as gun-related crime soars to new heights [. . .] The extent of the growing gun culture was revealed as new laws come into effect today making it illegal to carry an air weapon or replica gun in a public place. Under the plans, police will have the powers to arrest anyone carrying fake guns or air weapons in public without good reason. . .” Evening News
See also
Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (UK).
Posted by MM on Tue 20th Jan 2004 at 10:45 pm
Crime data Police • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
Expert evidence in Scottish cot death trials to be reviewed.
“All 258 cot death convictions to be reviewed: The Crown Office is to study the Court of Appeal ruling in England on prosecutions that may involve cot death as a defence to see if any cases in Scotland need to be re-examined [. . .] However, Helen Cormack, vice-chairwoman of the Scottish Cot Death Trust, said it was unlikely miscarriages of justice had occurred under Scots law. . .” Herald
“Scottish probe into cot death evidence” Evening News
See also
Posted by MM on Tue 20th Jan 2004 at 10:40 pm
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Shoplifters banned in Glasgow
“Shoplifters in ban from 100 city stores: EIight of Glasgow’s most prolific shoplifters have been banned from entering city centre stores for a year. The career criminals - five of whom are women - were barred for the whole of 2004 after being accused of plundering thousands of pounds worth of goods. . .” Evening Times
Posted by MM on Tue 20th Jan 2004 at 10:39 pm
Crime Prevention Community initiatives Sentencing • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend
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