A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
18th May 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Many prison drones evade capture
Drones are increasingly infiltrating Scottish prisons, with only eight out of 75 reported craft recovered last year. Similar patterns were seen in 2024, when 71 drones were reported but only 18 seized and 29 had their contents recovered. The drones are being used by gangs to smuggle drugs, weapons, mobile phones, SIM cards and memory sticks into jails, enabling continued criminal activity from inside prisons. Prison governors describe the threat as serious and difficult to counter, with drones often flown from long distances and capable of delivering packages directly to cells. The Scottish Prison Service is employing measures such as physical barriers and increasing detection efforts, while the Scottish Government says it supports ongoing security upgrades. However, critics argue ministers are failing to control the escalating problem.

 
INDUSTRY
SCAI costs escalate to £126m
The total cost of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has risen to around £126m, according to newly disclosed figures. Inquiry costs increased from £105m to almost £109m within three months, while additional spending by the Crown Office and Police Scotland pushed the overall figure higher. The inquiry, launched in 2015, has held more than 600 days of hearings and reviewed millions of pages of evidence. Politicians have renewed calls for fixed budgets and timescales for public inquiries amid concerns over escalating costs.

 
THE LAW
Law firms urged to prepare for Martyn’s Law
Writing in The Scotsman, solicitor Killian Dockrell of Shepherd and Wedderburn said venues should begin preparing now for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law. The legislation, expected to take effect around 2027, will require venues holding more than 200 people to introduce measures aimed at reducing risks from terrorist attacks. Larger venues may face stricter security obligations, with enforcement overseen by the Security Industry Authority.
SENTENCING
Questions raised over early prison release scheme
Concerns have been raised after an Aberdeen man convicted of a serious street assault was released under Scotland’s Home Detention Curfew scheme after serving 105 days of a 20-month sentence. The case has prompted debate over the Scottish Government’s decision to reduce HDC eligibility from 25% of a sentence to 15% for some prisoners. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said releases are subject to risk assessment and are not automatic, while critics argued victims should be informed earlier about potential release arrangements.
CASES
Inquiry launched after farmers die
The Crown Office will conduct a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the deaths of two farmers, George Stephen and Garry Thomson, who died after being struck by falling hay bales. Stephen, 60, died in January 2021, while Thomson, 58, passed away in July 2022. The inquiry aims to uncover the circumstances of their deaths and assess if reasonable precautions could have prevented them. Debbie Carroll from the Crown Office stated: "Hearing the matters together... will allow the effective examination of any shared issues and identify lessons for the future."
Supreme Court to hear Rogano dispute in Glasgow
The UK Supreme Court has begun a four-day sitting in Glasgow, hearing appeals including a dispute over water damage at the iconic Rogano restaurant, which has been closed since 2020. Owner Forthwell Ltd is battling landlord Pontegadea UK, the investment firm owned by Zara founder Amancio Ortega. The hearings are taking place at Glasgow City Chambers and are open to the public.
FIRMS
Addleshaw Goddard expands Edinburgh footprint
Addleshaw Goddard has relocated its Edinburgh office to 24 St Andrew Square, expanding its footprint by 60% to nearly 30,000 square feet. The new space features a modern, open-plan design while preserving the building's classical façade. Alan Shanks, head of Scotland at Addleshaw Goddard, stated: "Our goal is clear, to cement our position as one of the leading legal practices in Scotland." The firm aims to enhance collaboration and attract top talent, reflecting its commitment to the Scottish market and its growth in the region.
Stornoway firm raises £4,500 for charity
Ken MacDonald & Co, a legal practice in Stornoway, has raised £4,500 for Bethesda Care Home and Hospice through a will preparation initiative. The firm offered this service in February, inviting voluntary donations for the charity. The response was “overwhelming,” with many appointments booked. Last year, the firm raised £4,000, highlighting the community's generosity in supporting Bethesda's essential work.
CRIME
Fuel thefts surge as garages face rising costs
Fuel thefts across the UK have risen by 62% compared with a year ago, according to BBC figures, as forecourt operators report growing financial pressure from rising fuel prices linked to conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Police said "no-pay incidents" were having a significant impact on businesses, prompting measures including staff training and increased crime prevention efforts. Garage owners warned repeated drive-offs were damaging already tight margins, with some sites reportedly losing thousands of pounds each week.
TAX
Council tax debt recovery needs reform
Myles Fitt, head of financial health at Citizens Advice Scotland, urges the new Scottish Government to deliver reforms to the collection and recovery of council tax - saying Scotland "is the only country in the UK not making fundamental, progressive improvements to council tax collection and recovery", bar Northern Ireland where there is no council tax. Without action, he warns, "many people in Scotland on low incomes and tight budgets will continue to be damaged by a recovery process that doesn't work for those who seek to pay but can't", with those missing payments often held liable for the full year's bill "within a matter of weeks".
LICENSING
Councillors to review public drinking ban
South Lanarkshire Council will review its public drinking ban, originally enacted in March 2010 and last updated in April 2014. The review is mandated by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, requiring councils to reassess byelaws every decade. The council's executive committee will discuss the review on Wednesday. The byelaws aim to mitigate public nuisance and disorder linked to alcohol consumption in designated areas. The consultation will involve various stakeholders, including Police Scotland and NHS Lanarkshire, with public input welcomed.
PLANNING
CMA calls for clarity on Centre Parcs subsidy
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has urged South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE) to clarify its decision-making process regarding a £30m subsidy for Centre Parcs' new resort in Scotland. The subsidy aims to support essential infrastructure for the project, which is expected to create 1,200 jobs and contribute £75m annually to the local economy. However, the CMA's report highlighted areas for improvement, including how SoSE addressed queries from independent financial advisers about the project's viability. SoSE stated it will consider the report in its ongoing decision-making process.
TRANSPORT
Edinburgh settles £200m tram legal dispute
Edinburgh council has reached an out-of-court settlement with DLA Piper over legal advice linked to the city’s delayed and over-budget tram project. The council had been pursuing a £200m claim alleging negligent advice provided to TIE, the company overseeing the project. Details of the March 2026 settlement remain confidential. A separate internal review, following Lord Hardie’s public inquiry, found the council guilty of maladministration and cited “serious and systemic failings” that contributed to delays, rising costs and a reduced project scope. Council leaders said lessons had been learned, pointing to the later Newhaven tram extension being delivered on time and on budget.
More than £2m pothole compensation paid out since 2020
A BBC investigation has revealed that between 2020/21 and 2024/25, local authorities in Scotland paid out around a quarter of more than 18,600 claims for pothole-related vehicle damage. Based on the figures, which relate to 25 of Scotland's 32 local authorities, 22% of claims were successful, below the UK average of 24%, while just over £2m was paid out in total. Compensation rates varied widely between different council areas, from 6% in Edinburgh, South Ayrshire and North Ayrshire to 74% in the Highlands. COSLA has said that councils "are committed to keeping roads for which they are responsible safe and carry out critical maintenance where necessary", but that "intense pressure" on finances "has an impact on local authorities' capital programmes and revenue spend".
FRAUD
Council integrity group tackles fraud cases
Senior officials at Dumfries and Galloway Council have been overseeing anti-fraud and anti-corruption work through an internal Integrity Group. A report revealed the group reviewed one concluded case in 2025-26 involving petty cash controls, while also rolling out fraud awareness and organised crime training with support from Police Scotland.
WELFARE
Former MSPs calls for Cabinet Secretary for poverty and inequality
Former Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay and former SNP Health Secretary Alex Neil have jointly urged John Swinney to appoint a Cabinet Secretary with the sole responsibility of addressing poverty and inequality, and for the Scottish Parliament to establish a parliamentary committee to strengthen scrutiny on the issue. Mr Findlay said the current committee setup "fails to adequately scrutinise or initiate policy relating to poverty and inequality", and that these issues "cut across a wide range of policy areas: the economy, education, health, culture, justice, transport, and more". Mr Neil said the appointment of a Cabinet Secretary "would concentrate minds and leave those in power nowhere to hide".
OTHER
Correction
In our previous edition of Legal Slice Scotland, we stated that "80% of domestic abusers north of the Border avoid prison". The underlying figures from the Scottish Sentencing Council relate to court disposals (sentences or outcomes), not individual offenders, and multiple disposals can relate to the same individual case. The figures showed that around 18% of domestic abuse-related disposals between 2017/18 and 2023/24 resulted in a custodial sentence. We apologise for any confusion caused.

 

 

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