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MSPs have backed a range of technical updates to the short-term lets licensing scheme in response to engagement with accommodation operators. Licensing was introduced in 2022 to provide assurance to guests on safety and quality, such as gas and electrical safety compliance and the suitability of hos

The Crown Office has lodged first notices for fatal accident inquiries into the deaths of 57-year-old Stephen Charters and 19-year-old Harris James Macdonell. Stephen Charters, an inmate within HMP Edinburgh, died on 19 June 2022 after becoming unwell and suffering a collapse. A preliminary hearing

The growing importance of AI and technology for the legal sector has been examined at a conference hosted by the Law Society of Scotland. Legal technology experts told attendees at the annual Legal Tech Conference, held in Edinburgh yesterday that the Scottish sector must be willing to adopt AI and

A man impersonating a cop unwittingly pulled over an actual police officer in an unmarked car. The New Orleans man turned his illegally installed flashing lights on as he pulled behind the real detective.

Edinburgh law firm Ralph Sayer has appointed Tzana Webster to head up property sales. Formerly with Warners and VMH Solicitors, she joins as head of estate agency after three years in a similar role at Watermans.

Provisions in the land reform bill regarding the resumption of farming tenancies will further weaken the sector, not enhance it, Scottish Land & Estates has said. The rural business organisation was speaking after giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport

New powers have come into force allowing a court to prevent those convicted of murder or culpable homicide from acting as an executor on their victim’s estate. The measures are part of the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024, which was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament in Dec

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has concluded that the Faculty of Advocates' complaints process is overly complex and extremely challenging to navigate, especially for lay complainers. In a new report the SLCC made five statutory recommendations for improvement: for Faculty to improv

Legislation giving Scottish ministers powers to assess and remediate buildings which have unsafe cladding, where consent of the owners cannot be provided, has received royal assent. The Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill allows the creation of a Cladding Assurance Register to give homeow

Cybercrime has risen by almost 120 per cent in Scotland in the last four years, according to new data. Crimes recorded by the police in Scotland increased by four per cent between 2022-23 and 2023-24 new figures from the chief statistician show.

A controlling and violent domestic abuser has been jailed following a catalogue of sexual and physical abuse. Steven Ramage targeted his victim at various addresses in the Ayrshire area between May 2014 and January 2020.

A Chinese crime gang that trafficked vulnerable women and forced them to work in brothels in Glasgow and Edinburgh as part of a lucrative prostitution network have been jailed for a total of 20 years and nine months. Qin Huang, 31, Guolei Huang, 35, and Xiao Min, 38, were sentenced at the High Court

Pinsent Masons has appointed two Edinburgh-based partners as global sector heads. Julia Maguire, previously head of client relationships in the energy sector, takes on the global sector head role for energy, while John Maciver, formerly head of banking for Scotland and Northern Ireland, has been nam

Addleshaw Goddard (AG) has been included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2024. Published in partnership with Business in the Community, the annual list recognises organisations that demonstrate a commitment to gender equality and inclusivity in the workplace.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been freed from prison under a tentative plea deal with the US Justice Department, according to reports. Assange was indicted by US prosecutors on 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in relation to WikiLeaks publ