News

A hurricane brought cocaine worth more than $1 million to land yesterday. Hurricane Debby reached Florida as a Category 1 hurricane, though was downgraded to a tropical storm as it made its way across the south-eastern US.

A woman whose job offer with the police was withdrawn because she was on antidepressants is taking her case to the Employment Tribunal. Laura Mackenzie, from Inverness, was sent for a medical and was to be fitted for a uniform before her provisional offer was withdrawn.

A prolific child sex offender who abused four young boys over a 19-year period has been jailed. Peter McCormick, 66, admitted being engaged in lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards the children between June 1978 and December 1997.

A Police Scotland database contains the names of more than 500,000 people despite the fact many have never committed a crime, prompting calls for a review. Solicitor Aamer Anwar said that Chief Constable Jo Farrell should explain why so many names are on the database.

Lawyers for the UK government have asked Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal for more time to decide how it will deliver a human rights compliant investigation of the 1998 murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Lord Justice Horner last month gave the government a three-week deadline to agree a way

A better solution is needed to deal with solicitors who fail to co-operate with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC), the body has said. The Inner House of the Court of Session last week stopped short of finding a practitioner in contempt of court after three hearings and a proof relating

A £33 million Scottish government initiative for sharing digital evidence from crime scene to court room is being rolled out across Scotland. Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) allows police officers, prosecutors, defence lawyers, court staff and judges to access a secure, unified syst

A brand new justice hub, featuring bespoke facilities to support vulnerable witnesses and children in the justice system, has officially opened to serve the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife. The Dundee Justice Hub was opened on Friday by the Lord President, Lord Carloway, Sheriff Principal Gi

A man found guilty of raping two women and sexually assaulting a third has had his prison sentence increased following a successful appeal by the Crown. Anthony Plaskett was given a five-year prison term in January 2024, which prosecutors argued was unduly lenient.

Scotland’s cybercrime and fraud experts are urging businesses to be mindful of scams during the Edinburgh Festivals. The Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland is warning businesses that might be looking to book events as a team day activity or treat for clients to be on the lookout for count

Addleshaw Goddard remained the top legal adviser for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Scotland in the first half of this year, according to the latest Experian United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland M&A Review. The firm advised on 11 deals, ahead of CMS, which took second place with ei

BTO has announced the promotion of Michael Cox to partner in the firm’s corporate team in Edinburgh. In his new position, he will continue to focus on all aspects of corporate law with a specialism in M&A.

Human rights campaigners have welcomed the release of 16 people in the largest prisoner swap between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Those pardoned, released and exiled from Russia and Belarus include Russian activists and human rights defenders Oleg Orlov, Aleksandra 'Sasha' Skochilenko, Li

A man has been jailed for shoplifting nearly 800 Cadbury's Crème Eggs. Layton Richards, 29, was charged with 24 offences after stealing the chocolate from 19 different shops in the south of England between January and April.

Global accountancy body ACCA has called on the Scottish government to increase the threshold at which charities have to complete an audit in order to relieve time and cost pressure on them. ACCA highlighted some of the problems facing charities requiring an audit, with smaller ones paying proportion