A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

Scotland's Lord Advocate, Ruth Charteris KC, has warned that the country "must change" its approach to violence against women after domestic abuse charges reached their highest level in more than a decade. COPFS recorded 34,586 charges carrying a domestic abuse identifier in 2025-26, up 14% year on year, with 91% resulting in prosecution. Charges under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 rose 39% to 2,815, the highest since the legislation came into force. Men accounted for 85% of charges, while Glasgow recorded the highest total. Charteris said prevention was vital but the justice system must respond firmly to perpetrators. Opposition parties called for stronger measures, while Justice Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish Government was committed to preventing abuse, supporting victims and holding offenders to account.

 

BBC News

Daily Mail (Scot)

Herald Scotland

The Press and Journal

The Scotsman

 

The UK Government has announced a ban on imports linked to Israeli settlements and will impose sanctions on companies and individuals providing services such as construction, infrastructure, financing or real estate. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband cited evidence of war crimes in Gaza as justification for this "new approach" to Israel. Miliband added: "The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists." In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the UK as "hostile" and announced retaliatory measures, including the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and banning several MPs from travelling to Israel. France and Canada joined the ban on trade with the settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, following similar actions by the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Norway and others. Britain’s Chief Rabbi warned the sanctions put Jewish people in danger, something Miliband rejected. He also announced sanctions on the financing wing of Hezbollah and new sanctions on Iran.

 

Financial Times

The Daily Telegraph

Daily Mail

The Guardian

 

Police Scotland has been instructed to cease the use of Tasers on children in custody settings. A report from the Children and Young People's Commissioner revealed significant data gaps in the recording of force used against minors. Commissioner Nicola Killean highlighted the absence of crucial details, such as age and disability status, in police records. She stated: "When children come into contact with the police, they should be treated first and foremost as children." The report documented 43 Taser incidents involving children, with 21 recommendations for improved data recording and a halt to Taser use in custody.

 

Daily Mail

Millionaire Kevin Booth has lost an appeal against a five-year worldwide travel ban imposed after a Scottish civil court found he had subjected vulnerable women to violent abuse at his Highland home. Police Scotland secured the order under human trafficking and exploitation legislation, arguing he posed a continuing risk that could not be monitored abroad. The Sheriff Appeal Court rejected Booth’s arguments that the original ruling was legally flawed. He must also notify police about female employees and visitors, surrender his passport and obtain approval before sponsoring non-family visas.

 

BBC News

The Times

Two men have been jailed for a series of violent attacks across Glasgow city centre, including racially aggravated assaults on four Chinese students. Liam Murphy, 19, was sentenced to nine years and Bradley Lawrie, 20, to seven-and-a-half years. The pair admitted 16 offences committed over four-and-a-half hours in September 2025. Lord Cubie described their actions as a “rampage” and the worst sustained city-centre violence he had encountered in more than 15 years.

 

BBC News

EasyJet is facing a $72m lawsuit for allegedly abandoning six Airbus planes amid sanctions on Russia, with claims for unpaid rent, depreciation, and airport fees.

 

Financial Times

Rockstar Games is facing an employment tribunal over the alleged unlawful dismissal of 31 workers, with the case due to conclude only weeks before the release of Grand Theft Auto VI. The dispute concerns a relatively large claimant group and places a significant employment law hearing close to one of the games industry's biggest launches. The tribunal will determine whether the dismissals were lawful, with potential reputational and operational consequences for the company.

 

STV

Restrictive non-compete clauses are limiting career mobility for employees in fast-growing companies, the Times reports. Research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development indicates that 15% to 28% of private-sector workers are affected, impacting wage growth and innovation. In the UK, enforcement perceptions influence behaviour more than actual enforceability, the study found.

 

The Times

Ralph Sayer and Blackadders have expanded their trainee solicitor programmes, welcoming six new recruits across Edinburgh and other Scottish offices. Ralph Sayer appointed Aaliyah Rafique and Louis McDowell to two-year traineeships, marking the third intake since its programme launched in 2024. Blackadders recruited Daniel Anderson, Iona Howarth, Matthew Macleod and Caitlin Fitzpatrick, who will rotate across teams in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Blackadders has also retained three former trainees as newly qualified solicitors, including two former teachers who retrained in law.

 

Scottish Legal News

Edinburgh Evening News

Herald Scotland

A new report from Our Scottish Future, the think tank established by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has called on the Scottish Government to introduce directly elected regional mayoralties in Scotland, and to consider allowing those city regions to retain the proceeds of locally-collected land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT), or to set rates regionally, to help them drive economic growth.

 

The Times