Scotland’s independent public prosecution service and ministerial department
Deputy Chief Constable has urged more funding and a public health approach to tackling violence against women and girls, amid a string of high-profile cases and police contact investigations. The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner is examining prior police contact linked to Vikki Soloman’s death, while the regulator notes rising violence and online risk.
Multiple road-traffic deaths have led to court proceedings across Britain. In Wakefield, a driver was sentenced after stuffed toys obscured visibility in the fatal crash of John Nottingham. In Weston-super-Mare, a driver has been jailed for dangerous driving that killed Emily Jordan. In North Tyneside, Linda Hall pleaded guilty to causing Rita Grimshaw’s death in a busy car park. A separate case in Aberdeen involves Samantha Lee after a claw hammer attack.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has warned that average wait times for High Court indictments could rise to about 135 weeks by 2028/29 as crime rates and case complexity grow. Expansion of venues is planned, and digital reforms are sought to cut delays, but funding remains essential.
Two recent UK investigations have highlighted persistent failures to protect victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. A London woman has described how a partner used intimate images to control her, while survivors from Skircoat Lodge have criticised Calderdale Council's response after a trial of facts found historic abuse. Campaigners have also exposed how a convicted sex offender used repeated name changes to start new relationships.
The Lockerbie bombing case has new developments as U.S. prosecutors disclose evidence prompting defense review; jury selection in Abu Agila Masud Kheir Al-Marimi's trial is postponed with a January start date anticipated. Scottish prosecutors reaffirm their pursuit of justice.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has forecast that average wait times from charge to verdict could rise to about 135 weeks for High Court cases by 2028/29. The pressure stems from a sharp rise in indictments, especially in serious sexual offences and domestic abuse, and a push to modernise court processes amid funding gaps.
Scotland is expanding GPS tracking and bail monitoring as part of a government push to tackle misogyny and violence against women. The measures include potential exclusion zones around victims’ homes or workplaces and faster police responses when conditions are breached.
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of child sexual abuse. The High Court in Edinburgh backdated the sentence; his name has been added to the sex offenders register. Victims described grooming and multiple assaults spanning 1993-96 and 2006-10.
The University of Glasgow faces a fatal accident inquiry after a student, Ethan Brown, 23, from Coatbridge, died in December 2024 following an incorrect grade notification that he had failed a course. The university has apologised and is implementing recommendations from reviews; a civil settlement has been reached with the family, who are pushing for accountability and broader reforms across Scottish universities.