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Four men who carried out a multi-million-pound VAT payroll fraud to fund their affluent lifestyles have been sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. Martin Lang, 68, Graeme Cullen, 54, Leslie Thompson, 63, and Graham Newall, 49, acted in concert to commit their crimes.

Trace amounts of cocaine in rivers and lakes may accumulate in the brains of salmon and disrupt their behaviour, scientists have found, raising concerns about the potential impact on wild populations. In a study of juvenile Atlantic salmon, fish exposed to cocaine and its main breakdown product swam

Dundee Sheriff Court must make “urgent” improvements to privacy and ventilation in its custody unit, inspectors have said. A report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIPS), following a visit to the court custody unit (CCU) on November 6 last year, found the facility to be clean, generally

More than half of law firm clients still expect lawyers to dress formally, according to new research, suggesting the traditional suit and tie may be regaining ground after years of more relaxed office attire. The study found that 52 per cent of clients prefer formal dress, while presentation also ex

The Scottish Liberal Democrats said they would recruit more mental health specialists who can work alongside police officers and help them attend mental health incidents. Figures show that Police Scotland officers are now attending 14,500 mental health incidents a month. The organisation says that d

Anne Frances Hilley, known by many simply as AF, who has died peacefully at Monklands Hospital on 8 April 2026, was a respected procurator fiscal depute who was known for her hard work, helpfulness and knowledge. Before joining the Crown Office in February 2005, AF had already had a career in nursin

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is discriminatory and incompatible with the bloc’s core democratic principles, creating an early challenge for the country’s incoming government. In a sweeping judgment, the CJEU foun

Aberdein Considine LLP has appointed an accomplished and experienced residential property partner Will Wallace to head up its expanding residential property team in Edinburgh. Formerly a partner with Balfour and Manson, he brings a wealth of legal knowledge and conveyancing experience to a burgeonin

Body-worn cameras used by Police Scotland officers have recorded more than 864,000 incidents since their national rollout began in March last year, new figures show. The force said nearly 174,000 hours of footage have been uploaded, with more than 55,000 media files shared with prosecutors.

The Courier has published an obituary for Perth solicitor, Ian Tait, who has died at the age of 77. "Perth solicitor Ian Tait, a Cambridge graduate who built a long legal career in Scotland and was known for his dedication to family, history and travel, has died at the age of 77.

A 54-year-old man suspected of drink-driving told officers he did not need a licence and did not drive at all when approached in a liquor store car park, according to police. Officers in Vancouver, Canada, were called to the scene on April 8 following reports of a potentially impaired driver and fou

MML Law has advised on the sale of Dundee Press Agency to Hero Media & Entertainment, supporting a significant transition for one of Scotland’s best-known specialist publishing businesses. Founded by Graham Ogilvy more than 40 years ago, Dundee Press Agency has grown into a major publishin

Lawyers from CMS are joining forces with other female industry experts to launch a new organisation aimed at supporting women who work within Scotland’s wind energy sector. The Women in Wind Network has been set up to promote professional development, shared learning, and peer support for fema

Dr Gloria M Alvarez, a senior law lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, has been appointed co-chair of the Academic Forum on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) for the 2026–2027 term.  She will serve alongside Dr Ana Maria Daza Vargas of the University of Edinburgh.

Italian lawyers could receive financial incentives for persuading migrant clients to return to their countries of origin under proposals put forward by Giorgia Meloni’s government, prompting sharp criticism from across the legal profession. The measure forms part of a wider security bill that