News about criminal justice in Scotland

This is where you can find news taken from the media and other on-line sources about crime and justice issues in Scotland and, where relevant, the rest of the UK and Europe, together with press releases, original sources and other useful links. We try to update daily. If you can't immediately find what you are looking for try the site search or go to 'Archives' on menu bar. Links to other sites are for provided for your information and do not imply an endorsement of their content. Also, although CjScotland attempts to be as comprehensive as possible in its coverage we do not represent that all the information you might need can be obtained from this site. This is a person, not a computer, compiled blog.

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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

Tuesday, January 06, 2004

Domestic violence snapshot

“Attach Every Eight Minutes: A woman suffered a physical or verbal attack every eight minutes in Scotland last month.The Executive gathered statistics over the weekend around December 5 to get an idea of the level of domestic violence in Scotland. . .” Daily Record

Posted by MM on Tue 6th Jan 2004 at 1:53 pm
Crime data Gender and crime Domestic abuse • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Monday, January 05, 2004

Car Chases: new strategies

“Police planning sting in the tail for car chases: Police are introducing a raft of new measures to tackle the escalating number of car chases in the Capital. Extra training, the latest technology and strategies from other police forces around the world will be used to halt chases more safely. Lothian and Borders chiefs are also aiming to give every patrol car access to a Stinger, a device which is placed across the road to burst the tyres of a fleeing vehicle. . .” Evening News

Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 10:32 pm
Police • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Home Zone for Port Glasgow

“Residents the spur to creating feel-safe complex: One of Britain’s biggest people-friendly street complexes is to be created in Port Glasgow. Designed to combat fear of crime, a low-quality environment and speeding traffic in an area stigmatised by drug dealing, benefit abuse and other social problems, the ?1.2m “Home Zone” will centre on the town’s run-down Robert Street housing area. . .” Herald.

Antisocial Behaviour Bill: policing and populism concerns

“Labour can deal with criminals the popular way or the right way: There was a palpable air of embarrassment at the BBC last week as the result of its latest voters? poll was announced [. . .] This bill [the ABB] will do nothing to address the needs of these already isolated young people - it will simply alienate them yet further. The new laws will subject them to a raft of compulsory orders which will exacerbate rather than resolve the causes of their resentment and hostility. Scotland will simply be following the example set in England of introducing laws which criminalise a whole section of our society without remotely considering the root causes of its offending behaviour. . .” Magnus Linklater. Scotland on Sunday

“Police fears over Scots plans to tackle yobs: Police chiefs have voiced “serious reservations” about part of the Scottish Executive?s proposals to tackle antisocial behaviour.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpos) in Scotland says it generally welcomes the measures in the Bill being examined by MSPs. But it restates its view the new power for police to disperse groups is unnecessary [. . .] The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, also criticises the proposals. . .” Evening News

“Police chiefs call for freedom from Executive: Senior police chiefs have warned Scottish Executive ministers not to interfere with the way they carry out their duties. In a written submission to the Scottish Parliament, the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) claimed proposed legislation on anti-social behaviour could impinge on the operational accountability of chief constables [. . .] Mr Strang said he had serious reservations about section 21 of the bill, which “confers a power on Scottish ministers to give directions to police officers in the exercise of powers”. . .” Scotsman

SNP questions Crown Office budget

“Poor funding ‘will hamper reform’: The Scottish Executive’s promise to cut crime and reduce delays in Scotland’s court system will be undermined by a lack of funds, it has been claimed. The SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon said she was worried spending on the Crown Office would flatline over the next two years. . .” BBC

“Crime crackdown underfunded” Scottish TV

“Nats Blast At Courts Cash” Daily Record

“Budget freeze ‘will hit Scots crime crackdown’: The Scottish Executive’s commitment to cut crime and court delays will be hit by a two-year budget freeze, the SNP claimed today. . .” Evening Times

Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 4:12 pm
Courts Criminal justice reform • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Confiscation of Assets First

Media

“Crime proceeds case is UK first: The UK’s first successful civil court case to recover suspected proceeds of crime involved a man from Aberdeen, the Crown Office has revealed.
The ?24,000 which was paid to the authorities is thought to have come from the profits of drug trafficking. . .” BBC

“Scotland first over drug cash seizure: A civil court action has been used in Scotland to seize suspected profits of drug trafficking for the first time in the UK [. . .] He had been acquitted of drug trafficking offences after pleading not guilty, but could not account for a substantial sum of money in his bank account. He had made regular deposits, totalling ?45,970, over three years while on benefits with no other known legitimate income. His co-accused was convicted. . .” Herald

“Court seizes ?24,000 from man cleared of drug offences: Scotland’s top legal officer yesterday welcomed a landmark legal ruling in which a man previously cleared of drug trafficking offences had ?24,000 seized by a court. . .” Scotsman

“Drug crime money seized: Scottish TV

“Aberdeen man has assets seized: Grampian TV

“`Dealer’ Cash is Siezed By Civil Courts: Daily Record

Press Release

“Confiscation of drug profits: The first proceeds of crime in the UK to be paid back following a civil court action have been recovered at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by the Civil Recovery Unit (CRU) which acts on behalf of Scottish Ministers. . .” Scot. Exec.

Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 4:00 pm
Sentencing Asset recovery • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Criminal Record Checks Imported from England

“English Firms Get Criminal Checks Done in Scotland: Scotlands’s criminal record checking system is being swamped by English firms because it’s cheaper and faster than their own [. . .] The Scottish cost for checks is ?13.60 less than half the price of the English firm. . .” Sunday Mail

Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 3:56 pm
Police • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

More effective speed cameras coming

“Lasers set to stun speeding Scots drivers: Thousands more Scots motorists will be hit by speeding fines under plans to introduce a new generation of hi-tech roadside cameras fitted with laser beams, Scotland on Sunday can reveal. . .” Scotland on Sunday

“Long Sight of the Law: Speeding motorists face being snared by super new cameras which catch them 15 times further away. . .” Daily Record

Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 3:50 pm
Police • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Police professional development

“Police officers given chance to win a degree of understanding: Police are to be offered degree courses to make them more rounded individuals under plans being drawn up by the Scottish Police College in Fife [. . .] Under the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) people strategy for the next decade ? which is due to be published this month ? officers should be given the opportunity to obtain school and university level certificates. . . “ Herald

Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 3:48 pm
Police • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Absconders from Castle Huntly

“Castle Huntly absconders: ?no cover-up?: The Scottish Prison Service today denied there was any cover-up following the abscondments from Castle Huntly of three prisoners. . .” Evening Telegraph

“A Killer, A Smuggler and A Thug are on the Run from this Prison..They Forgot to Tell Us: A Murderer, a drugs trafficker and a vicious thug are on the run after walking out of an open prison. Prison authorities were last night accused of a cover-up after failing to tell the public the men had fled from Castle Huntly jail. . .” Sunday Mail

Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 3:40 pm
Prisons and prisoners • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

Friday, January 02, 2004

High Court remands in custody

To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases appearing before the High Court the defendant had been held on remand in each of the last four years, expressed also as a percentage of all cases.
Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con)

(WQ 12.1.04)

Posted by MM on Fri 2nd Jan 2004 at 10:26 pm
Courts Bail/remand • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend

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