News

The Scottish Sentencing Council has today published a new research report reviewing the sentencing of offences involving domestic abuse in Scotland.The literature review, carried out by a group of expert academics from Strathclyde University and the University of Glasgow, will help to inform the cou

MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee are to examine plans put forward by the Scottish government which would overhaul systems in place around the release of prisoners and use of bail by courts. The new Bail and Release from Custody Bill, which the government hopes will

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today set out a revised approach to working more effectively with public authorities. This approach, which is outlined in an open letter from the UK Information Commissioner John Edwards to public authorities, will see use of the commissioner&rsq

TLT has furthered its commitment to reducing carbon emissions from clients’ disputes with the launch of a new UK-wide Greener Disputes Committee. The committee will be responsible for actively reducing, with a view to minimising, the environmental impacts of litigation in all three UK jurisdic

A man who mistakenly believed he was wanted by police has been arrested after breaking into a jail to hand himself in. Jail authorities said Wisconsin man Tavier Holling, 30, began pounding on their door early on Sunday morning before growing impatient and smashing his way in.

Recent council motions may be well meaning but they are at odds with licensing, writes Stephen McGowan. Every now and again a local councillor or even a full council proposes or approves a motion which relates to the operation of licensed premises. This has happened recently, on 24th June 2022, with

Russia has been told by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to stay the execution of two British men serving in the Ukrainian army who were captured in Mariupol and sentenced to death. The applicants, Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, are British citizens who were born in 1973 and 1994, respectiv

The Brussels office of the UK's law societies will close in November. Opened in 1991, the office represents the profession to the EU and monitors legislative developments in the bloc.

New legislation to control the sale and use of fireworks has been passed. The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill passed following a Holyrood debate and introduces a fireworks licensing system, with mandatory safety training, for people wishing to purchase and use fireworks.

Businesses, consumer groups and financial and legal professionals are being invited to share their views on a proposed law which could substantially reform how Scots can raise finance. The Scottish Parliament’s Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee has launched a consultation on the Scotti

A woman who taught at a school in Glasgow and who entered into a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female student has had her headline sentence reduced by six months after an appeal to the High Court of Justiciary. The appellant, NP, pled guilty to a contravention of section 42 of the Sexual Of

Hairdressers are facing fines of up to €500 if they breach an Italian town's new ban on the traditional practice of double-washing hair. Castenaso, a small town of around 15,000 people near Bologna, has cracked down on double-washing to save water as the region suffers a drought emergency, The

Fraser & Mulligan, Solicitors has merged with Mackinnons Solicitors LLP. Many of the Fraser & Mulligan partners, solicitors and support staff have transferred over to Mackinnons, which will provide continuity of service to the Fraser & Mulligan existing clients. The firm's office in Ball

The Faculty of Advocates has joined other legal bodies in criticising the UK government's Bill of Rights. The government said that this has taken heed of the responses from various stakeholders, including those in Scotland. The Faculty said it regrets that there was little evidence of this.

The SNP was accused of making a power grab after legislation to support Scotland’s recovery from Covid passed its final stage. MSPs voted in favour of the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill, which proposes changes in 35 specific legislative areas, many of which originated in tem