The Scottish Police Federation has suggested that a “more sophisticated approach” is required to deal with knife crime in Scotland. It claims that while the threat of jail for those carrying knives on streets may be a useful one in that context, the fact that the majority of knife crime appears to be committed in the home renders this punishment largely ineffective.
Criminal law blog, Edinburgh, Scotland
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Controversial plans have been put in place for a single national Scottish police force. The Scottish Police Federation, representing 16,500 police officers, is against the move for a single police force, while the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents is in favour of the proposals.
Following on from the Cadder V HMA decision, for which see our Cadder blog post from earlier this year, a further full review and potential changes are to be considered for Scots criminal law. This may lead to the revocation of certain current rights of suspected criminals which have stood for hundreds of years.
Under new plans by the Crown Office, sectarian hate crimes in Scotland could be punishable by custodial sentences of up to five years instead of six months.
A new partnership has been set up to try to prevent crimes against animals in Fife in Scotland.
On 22 March 2011, the Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Bill passed its third and final stage through the Scottish Parliament. MSPs were unanimous in voting in favour of the Bill becoming law.
New figures show that there has been a significant increase in recent years in the number of women in Scottish prisons.
Lothian and Borders police are investigating an alleged assault that took place at Double Hedges Park, Liberton, Edinburgh during a football competition known as the John McConnell Cup between under-15 sides Edinburgh City and Inch Colts.
As reported in the Law Society of Scotland's Journal Online on 8 March 2011, a judgment has been handed down in Perth Sheriff Court which provides clarification as to the extent of the Cadder judgment.
New clauses have been added to the latest draft of the Scotland Bill which may permit Scottish criminal appeals to be heard in the UK Supreme Court.
The Lord Advocate is to refer five cases to the UK Supreme Court for a further ruling as to the scope of the Cadder v HMA decision which was handed down by last October by the Supreme Court.