A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

Scotland's political parties are outlining contrasting approaches to law and order ahead of the upcoming Holyrood elections, with debate focused on sentencing, prison capacity and policing pressures. The SNP plans to address prison overcrowding by funding new facilities, including replacements for existing jails, while expanding initiatives such as mental health triage units to reduce pressure on frontline police. The party has also faced scrutiny over early release policies and prison management. The Scottish Conservative Party proposes tougher sentencing, including mandatory life terms and ending automatic early release. Scottish Labour would tighten bail rules and revise sentencing guidelines, while the Scottish Greens prioritise rehabilitation and alternatives to custody. Across parties, key issues include reoffending, police workload and balancing punitive measures with system capacity.

 

The Scotsman

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John Swinney has been urged to reconsider the objectives of a commission on sex work following concerns from the campaign group Scotland for Decrim. They fear the commission, led by Fiona Taylor, a former deputy chief constable, may increase risks for sex workers. Laura Baillie, political officer for Scotland for Decrim, highlighted the low trust between sex workers and police, especially after the mishandling of Emma Caldwell's murder investigation. Baillie stated: "This does not signal an understanding of the reality of selling sex in Scotland." Justice Secretary Angela Constance supports the commission's aim to criminalise the purchase of sex.

 

The Herald

 

Scotland's emergency early release programme has freed 614 prisoners since November, yet overcrowding persists. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) reported an increase in the total prison population, which reached 8,456 on 1 May. Notably, 40% of eligible inmates were denied release due to high-risk assessments. The emergency scheme has ended, but a new law will allow short-term prisoners to be released after serving 30% of their sentence. A SPS spokesperson said: "We have been managing an extremely high and complex population for more than two years, which continues to place significant pressure on our staff and those in our care."

 

BBC News

A Church of Scotland minister has implemented a bereavement support strategy at HMP Edinburgh, making it the first UK prison to receive a Bereavement Charter Mark. Rev Douglas Creighton noted that the initiative supports not only inmates but the entire prison community.

 

The Scotsman

Rising numbers of British citizens are falling victim to slavery, according to the independent anti-slavery commissioner. The report revealed 23,411 potential victims referred to the Home Office last year, a 22% increase from 2024 and the highest since 2009. British nationals made up 22% of cases, with Eritrean and Vietnamese victims following. Eleanor Lyons, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said: "Behind these numbers are real people being abused... This is happening in plain sight." The report highlights economic pressures and weak enforcement as contributing factors to this alarming trend.

 

The Guardian

The I

The Times

A survey of 4,000 local government workers across all 32 Scottish local authorities by Unison has found that just 31% would recommend their job to others, while 53% report regularly carrying out unpaid overtime, 63% regularly feel stressed or overwhelmed by rising living costs, 26% have struggled to cover the cost of bills and food in the last year, and 16%, rising to 21% in social work and social care, have taken out loans to stay afloat. The survey found that a tenth are already planning to take early retirement, with 17% investigating whether their finances would allow it. Responding to the survey, COSLA said that while council staff "are the backbone of essential public services in every community across Scotland", it is "important to be honest about the context in which councils are operating", with years of "sustained financial pressure" affecting both services and staff.

 

Herald Scotland

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has urged voters to back the party's "win-win" housing policy, saying the party will "tackle the chronic housing shortage by returning housebuilding to a level that gets 25,000 new homes built annually, and create new key worker housing so that finding a home isn't a barrier to taking up a job when somewhere is crying out for your skills". Housing developers, he added, "tell me the SNP's chopping and changing of housing policy must end because it's forced big institutional investors away", while care providers "tell me their staff can't find somewhere to live". As such, he said, "this key worker housing policy is a win-win. We'd get Scotland building again and secure a supply of workers in vital industries."

 

thenational.scot

Ayr Advertiser

Border Telegraph

The Press and Journal

City of Edinburgh Council data has revealed that council inspectors seized a total of 455 disposable vapes, e-cigarettes and e-liquids last year, while 45 fixed penalty notices were issued across 2024/25 and 2025/26 following the sale of nicotine vape products to under-18s. Councillors have called for tighter regulation around the selling of vape products in the wake of the Union Corner fire, with Cllr Susan Rae noting that there are "around 600 registered vape shops" in Edinburgh alone, "yet we have no powers to regulate them". "There have been repeated calls to close down some vape shops", she said, and while this is "an issue that ultimately sits with the Scottish Parliament … the public response to the fire has created a groundswell of support for stronger regulation.

 

Herald Scotland

Deepfake fraud incidents have surged by 1,210% in 2025, significantly outpacing traditional fraud, which rose by 195%. In the UK, deepfake fraud attempts increased by 94%, with over 1,200 incidents reported daily and losses exceeding £629m in six months. Adam Nasli, head broker analyst at BrokerChooser, warned that AI scams are becoming more sophisticated, making it crucial for consumers to verify identities.

 

Daily Express

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is emerging as a key focus for investors, with 79% of low-carbon venture capital firms planning to back projects in the coming year, according to Pinsent Masons. The survey highlights strong global interest in CCS technology, alongside increasing use of international incentives such as tax credits and loan guarantees. Early signs also suggest investors are beginning to diversify across the wider low-carbon sector.

 

The Scotsman

Lynsey Millar, CEO of Lanarkshire Law Practice and Nicolson O'Brien Solicitors, has been awarded Law Firm of the Year (Small) – Female Leader at the BWS Women at the Law Awards. This accolade recognises her leadership and innovation in the legal sector. Since taking over in 2019, Millar has expanded the firm from five to 24 staff and achieved significant revenue growth. She stated: "This is a real achievement for the whole team," highlighting the importance of values and client care in their success. The firm remains committed to its local community while planning further expansion.

 

The Daily Record