A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
9th October 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Sexual offences court delayed by funding uncertainty
MSPs have been told Scotland’s planned dedicated sexual offences court has no confirmed launch date or funding, with money expected to be considered in the 2027-28 budget. Malcolm Graham, chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, said too many variables remained to set a timetable, stressing the court must improve the experience of victims and witnesses rather than simply transfer cases. Scottish Government justice director Catriona Dalrymple said work was under way to develop the court’s model and estimate costs. Legislation establishing the court passed in September 2025. The delay comes amid rising sexual offences, growing rape case numbers and warnings that court backlogs threaten confidence in justice.

 
POLICING
Forty-five officers suspended over abuse allegations
Police Scotland has 45 serving officers suspended over allegations of violence against women and girls, with chief constable Jo Farrell warning that further sanctions are likely. Farrell described the problem as an “epidemic” and said an independent review was examining how serial rapist Alan Greer passed vetting checks before joining the force in 2009. Around 8,000 officers and civilian staff still require re-vetting under tightened rules, which now allow unsuitable officers to be dismissed. First Minister John Swinney said he had “full confidence” in the process, following several former officers’ convictions for sexual offences.

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THE LAW
Councils breach homelessness law 21,800 times
Scottish councils breached their legal duty to provide homeless people with shelter a record 21,800 times in 2025-26, up 581% since 2017-18, according to new analysis. Campaigners say shortages of temporary accommodation have contributed to systemic failures, despite Scotland declaring a housing emergency in 2024. Crisis Scotland warned that every breach represents someone in crisis being turned away, urging ministers to implement homelessness prevention laws and increase housing supply. A court ruling established that resource pressures do not excuse councils from their legal obligations. COSLA called for sustained investment in affordable social housing, while the Scottish Government highlighted £4.9bn planned investment to deliver 36,000 affordable homes.
CASES
Royal Navy member charged with espionage
Teddy Young, a 24-year-old Royal Navy member, has been charged with two offences under the National Security Act, including obtaining protected information for a foreign power, believed to be Russia. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, confirming only his name and date of birth. Young was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey on October 16. District Judge Annabel Pilling said that the charges are too serious for the magistrates' court.
FIRMS
Gillespie Macandrew reaches record 30 partners
Gillespie Macandrew has appointed Chris Devlin and Douglas Roberts as partners in planning and corporate law respectively, and Nikki Robertson as head of finance. The appointments take its partnership to a record 30 as turnover exceeds £20m for the first time. The firm has also retained eight trainees as newly qualified solicitors.
FRAUD
Dundee fraud team uncovers six cases
Dundee City Council referred six alleged staff fraud cases to Police Scotland in 2025-26, involving suspected bribery, corruption, stolen cash and vouchers. The council’s corporate fraud team identified more than £140,000 in savings and recoveries, including £78,000 from tenancy fraud and £34,000 from council tax cases.
Scotland sees 12k benefit fraud claims
Scotland's social security agency received over 23,000 allegations of benefit fraud in three years, yet only 42 cases were reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The number of allegations rose to 11,947 in 2025/26, prompting calls for a tougher approach to fraud.
EMPLOYMENT
Workplace health crisis costs £241bn
The UK faces a workforce health crisis, costing £241bn annually in lost productivity, according to a report by Vitality. Mental ill-health is the primary cause, while high-risk employees are losing 30 days of productivity each year. Despite the financial burden of £7,000 per employee, only a third of employers provide mental health support. Neville Koopowitz, CEO of Vitality, said: “Employers who understand their employees' health are seeing real returns.” Legal risks also rise for businesses failing to support staff adequately. Ed Bowyer, partner at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, says: "We have seen a material uptick in the number of instructions arising out of negative mental health issues in the workplace."
TERRORISM
Terrorist inmate numbers hit record high
As of June, the UK has a record 275 inmates on terror charges, marking a 7% increase from 257 in 2025. The Home Office reports that 57% of these inmates hold Islamist-extremist views, while 29% adhere to extreme right-wing beliefs. Additionally, there has been a significant rise in terror arrests, with 3,867 arrests for suspected terrorist activity in the year leading to June. Notably, 94% of these arrests, or 3,630 individuals, were linked to support for the proscribed group Palestine Action.
OTHER
Aberdeen FC appeals for clues to 1983 taxi driver murder
Aberdeen FC will use Sunday’s matchday programme to appeal for information about the unsolved 1983 murder of taxi driver George “Dod” Murdoch. The 58-year-old was found dead near his cab after being attacked with a suspected cheese-wire garrotte. Despite decades of investigation, no one has been charged. Murdoch’s nephew, Alex McKay, hopes the initiative will prompt new witnesses to come forward. Detectives have re-examined DNA evidence in recent years, while a £50,000 reward was previously offered for information leading to the killer’s identification.

 

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