“Scotland and N Ireland could reject bill of rights Guardian
“Hating the human rights act – an English phenomenon” Guardian

Press release

“‘A legal and political nightmare’: Report on devolution and human rights warns of major difficulties ahead” Justice

“Repeal or significant amendment of the Human Rights Act will prove difficult to reconcile with the current devolution framework governing Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, concludes a JUSTICE report published today. The terms of the devolution settlement are therefore likely to prove a major challenge to any proposal for a UK–wide ‘British’ bill of rights. The report details how the Human Rights Act and the devolution statutes formed part of a broader constitutional shift in the late 1990s, and how they are now legally and constitutionally intertwined. Accordingly, any move to repeal or substantially amend the Human Rights Act and/or enact a bill of rights for the UK would have serious consequences for the devolved jurisdictions.

The report predicts that it would be extremely difficult, and probably impossible, for Westminster to legislate for a bill of rights without the approval of the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Irish
Assembly. Roger Smith, Director of JUSTICE, said:
Repeal or substantial amendment of the Human Rights Act will require changes to the devolution settlements for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is likely to prove a legal
and political nightmare. The devolution settlement is incredibly complex. The consent of the devolved Parliaments – certainly practically and probably constitutionally – will also be required. This is not a project in which Westminster can go it alone. Any attempt to introduce a UK–wide Bill of Rights would need to be a joint enterprise of all four parts of the UK.

“Police ‘ignore’ rights of sex trafficking victims” Guardian
“Scotland–wide inquiry into sex trafficking” Herald

Press release

“Formal Inquiry opened into Human Trafficking in Scotland” Equality and Human Rights Commission

Update

On Thursday 11th February there is to be a debate at 2.55 pm on the Equal Opportunities Committee Debate: 3rd Report 2009: Female offenders in the criminal justice system.

Following posted on 15.01.10

“Cash to cut female prison numbers” BBC
“Extra cash to help female offenders” Herald
“SNP wages gender war to cut number of women in jail” Herald
“Funding aims to help stop women reoffending” Law Society Journal Online

Following posted on 11.11.09

“Scots jails full of women ‘who shouldn’t be there’” Express
“Sentencing of women with mental health problems criticised” STV

Following posted on 10.11.09

“Children pay for mothers’ prison terms” Herald
“Treatment of women prisoners needs major overhaul, MSPs told” Herald
“MSPs concerned over women in jail” BBC
“Sentencing of women with mental health problems criticised” STV

Following posted on 6.05.09

“Policy of having just one women’s prison is condemned” Scotsman
“Female prison policy criticised” BBC

Following posted on 12.02.09

“Female offender inquiry to begin” BBC
“Too many women being sent to jail – prison chief” Press and Journal

Following posted on 18.12.08

“Probe into female prison inmates with mental health issues” Press and Journal
“Equal Opportunities Committee launches prison inquiry” Law Society Journal Online

Press release

“Female re–offending” Scot.Gov. (January 2009) . The press release contains link to the Scottish Government’s response document.
“Treatment of female offenders should be re–examined says committee” Scottish Parliament (November 2009)
“Inquiry into female offenders launched by Equal Opportunities Committee” Scottish Parliament (December 2008)

See also

Equal Opportunities Committee Report (November 2009). Female offenders in the criminal justice system.

Equal Opportunities Committee: Inquiry into female offenders in the criminal justice system homepage. Includes notes of meetings and evidence presented.
Call for written evidence by the Equal Opportunities Committee

Update

“30,000 Scots sign petition backing automatic jail sentences for knife thugs” Daily Record

Following posted on 4.1.10

“Labour want knife crime treated as seriously as gun offences” Daily Record
“Labour call for hard line approach to knife crime” STV
“Labour slams SNP for ‘failure’ over knife crime” Scotsman

Following posted on 15.12.09

“Parents of knife crime victims tell summit of ‘suffering’ after assaults” Herald
“Labour renews demand to get tougher on knife crime” Scotsman
“Anti–knife crime event to be held in Glasgow” STV

Following posted on 19.10.09

“Police deal blow to Labour’s automatic jail policy for knife carrying” Scotsman

Following posted on 5.10.09

“Labour calls for tougher jail terms for knife crime” Herald
“Labour slam SNP’s soft stance on knife crime” Daily Record

Following posted 31.08.09

“Knife crime statistics prompt Labour demand for jail terms” Herald
“New plea to jail anyone caught carrying a knife” Press and Journal

Following posted 12.08.09

“Grieving dad joins bid to jail all knife thugs” Evening Times
“Labour petition on knives goes to Holyrood” Herald
“Labour leader accuses SNP of being soft on knife crime” Scotsman
“Cutting knife crime is top priority for public” Evening Times

Following posted 17.07.09

“East End backs call to jail all knife carriers” Evening Times

Following posted 19.06.09

“Only one in four armed criminals face prison” Evening News

Following posted 29.05.09

“Violence czar opposes mandatory sentences for knives” Holyrood.com

Following posted 28.05.09

“Police chief dismisses call to jail anyone carrying a knife” The Scotsman

Following posted 27.05.09

“Tories demand tough action to cut crime ” Evening Times

Following posted 14.05.09

“Parties want mandatory jail terms for knife thugs” Herald
“Tory demands tough new jail sentences” Press and Journal
“Tories call for 2 year minimum sentence to tackle knife crime” Scotsman
“Mandatory jail terms for knife crime backed” Herald

Press releases

“Labour demands mandatory knife sentences” Scottish Labour Party

See also

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homicides there were in 2007-08, broken down by (a) police force area and (b) main method of killing (and related questions)

“Labour wants to ban Buckfast over its high caffeine content” Herald
“Labour drinks ban to target Buckfast wine” Scotsman
“Labour: ban high–caffeine alcohol” Times
“Labour want ‘‘de–caf’ Buckfast” STV
“Call to cut caffeine in alcohol” BBC
“Radical plan to tackle Scotland’s drink culture” Evening Times
“Labour alcohol review plans ban on Buckfast” Herald
“Proposal to limit amount of caffeine per litre of alcohol” Press and Journal
“Leader comment: Alcohol Bill” Evening News
“Commission out to target Buckfast ban” Express
“Buckfast ban proposed by Labour” Telegraph
“Labour commission to find alternatives to minimum pricing” STV

Update

“Taser decision should be made by Government, say Lib Dems” Herald

Following posted on 5.2.10

“Front line officers to get 50,000–volt taser guns in controversial pilot scheme” Herald
“Beat bobbies to get 50,000–volt stun guns” Scotsman
“Taser could work but use must be limited” Scotsman
“Police armed with taser guns” STV
“Beat police to get Taser guns in pilot” Law Society Journal Online

See also

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): Until today, only trained firearms officers in Scotland have been routinely equipped with Taser stun guns. Now Scotland’s biggest police force, Strathclyde Police, is proposing to issue them to every patrolling officer in Cambuslang and Rutherglen. What is the policy position of Scottish ministers?

Update

“Naked rambler’s longest sentence” BBC
“Naked rambler handed new jail term” STV
“Nude hiker blasts Scots justice as he prepares for court date” Daily Record

Following posted on 21.01.10

“Sir Fred and the naked rambler” Scottish Review

Following posted on 12.01.10

“Sheriff refuses naked rambler freedom plea” Courier
“Keep your trousers on or face life in jail” Sun
“Cover up or face life in jail, naked rambler is warned” Independent
“Naked rambler faces life in prison” Telegraph
Frances Crook of the Howard League blogs on the naked rambler

Following posted on 20.07.09

“The Naked Rambler can strip in prison” Courier

Following posted on 17.07.09

“Year in prison for ‘Naked Rambler’” Courier
“Naked rambler is back behind bars” BBC

Following posted on 2.07.09

“Naked rambler appears naked in Perth court” STV

Following posted on 19.06.09

“Court disrupted by ‘naked rambler’” Courier

Following posted on 19.12.08

“12 months for naked rambler” Herald
“More jail time for naked rambler” BBC

Following posted on 19.4.07

“£100k cost of locking up Naked Rambler” Evening News

Following posted on 5.12.03

“The Naked Rambler meets the Highland judiciary” West Highland Free Press

http://nakedwalk.org/

Update

“New chief constable a first for Tayside” Courier
“Tayside force appoints first female chief” BBC

Following posted on 3.07.08

“First female Chief Constable wants to involve communities” STV

Following posted on 30.06.08

“New police chief looks forward” Courier
“Female chief ‘has never felt victim of sexism’” Herald

Following posted on 09.06.08

“First Scots female police chief” BBC
“First Scots female police chief appointed” Courier
“Appointment of Scotland’s first female police chief welcomed” Press and Journal

Press release

“New Chief Constable for Tayside Police” Tayside Police (February 2010)

See also

Fife Police

The Scottish Consortium on Crime and Criminal Justice (SCCCJ) has published its fourth review on crime and justice in Scotland. The report aims to provide an independent assessment of the data on crime in Scotland and the performance of the relevant criminal justice agencies in response. Speaking today Professor Alec Spencer, the Convenor of the Consortium said: ‘There is ample evidence to show that crime is reducing and the public are feeling safer, despite the rhetoric of some politicians and some elements of the media to persuade us otherwise. However, it is not all good news. The prison population is increasing, and at an alarming and unjustifiable rate. Scotland’s rate is the fourth highest in Western Europe, more than double the rates of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and significantly greater than the rates of Italy, France, Germany and Northern Ireland and Eire.’

“Public feeling safer as crime figures plunge to 30–year–low” Daily Record

Press release

“Scotland leads the way – but it is not all good news” SCCCJ (.pdf)

See also

SCCCJ (February 2010) Crime and Justice in Scotland 2009: A Fourth Review of Progress
http://www.scccj.org.uk

Update

“Holyrood committee splits over handling of Megrahi release” Guardian
“Lockerbie bomber report critical of Kenny MacAskill undermined by partisan row” Telegraph
“Handling of Megrahi release ‘shambolic’” Press and Journal
“Kenny MacAskill should have sought second opinion before freeing Lockerbie bomber, says inquiry” Scotsman
“MacAskill under fire in report on ‘botched’ release” Express
“Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill criticised for handling of Megrahi release” Telegraph
“Inquiry fails to shed light on Lockerbie bomber release” Telegraph
“MacAskill’s prison visit with Lockerbie bomber ‘inappropriate’” Times
“MacAskill criticised over release of Lockerbie bomber” Caledonian Mercury
“MacAskill criticised over Lockerbie release” STV
“Lockerbie bomber jail visit ‘inappropriate’, say MSPs ” BBC
“Justice Committee criticises handling of Megrahi release” Law Society Journal Online

Following posted on 14.12.09

“No update on Lockerbie bomber’s health – more than three months after his compassionate release from prison with terminal cancer” Daily Record
“MacAskill: I do not know how long Megrahi will live” Herald

Following posted on 9.12.09

“Holyrood closes Megrahi enquiry” Herald
“Report to slate MacAskill over early release of Megrahi” Scotsman
“Holyrood Lockerbie inquiry closed” STV
“Holyrood Lockerbie bomber release inquiry closed” BBC

Following posted on 2.12.09

“Lockerbie bomber had body armour on under tracksuit as he left Scotland, reveals Kenny MacAskill” Daily Record
“Medical evidence to release Lockerbie bomber was ‘quite clear’, Kenny MacAskill tells inquiry” Daily Record
“Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al–Megrahi’s shellsuit hid body armour” Guardian
“MacAskill: Medical evidence ‘clearly’ justified release of Megrahi” Herald
“Revealed: shellsuit concealed body armour for Megrahi” Herald
“Lockerbie bomber Abdul Baset Ali al–Megrahi wore body armour when freed” Times
“Megrahi wore body armour under shell suit to thwart assassination” Scotsman
“Bombproof” Scottish Sun
“Megrahi left Scotland in body armour” Express
“Megrahi was hiding body armour” Press and Journal
“Lockerbie bomber hid bullet proof vest under shellsuit” BBC
“Labour MSP criticised for not declaring he is brother of Lockerbie lawyer” Herald
“Furore over MSP’s link to Lockerbie bomber” STV

Press release

“Justice Committee reports on al–Megrahi decision” Scottish Parliament (February 2010)

See also

Report of the Justice Committee Inquiry into the decision on Abdelbaset al-Megrahi (5.2.10)
Scottish Parliament Official Report 10.12.09: George Foulkes: Will the cabinet secretary update the Parliament on the current state of Mr al–Megrahi’s health?
Justice Committee Official Report 1.12.09: Inquiry into Decision on Abdelbaset al–Megrahi
Justice Committee: Inquiry into decision on Abdelbaset al–Megrahi page

Update

“New York Times takes Buckfast issue to the world” STV
“For Scots, a Scourge Unleashed by a Bottle” New York Times

Following posted on 28.1.10

“Labour MEP calls for Europe–wide ban on ‘dangerous’ Buckfast tonic wine” Daily Record
“Monks reject Buckfast wine link to crime in Scotland” BBC

Following posted on 20.1.10

“Don’t blame Buckfast for violence” Guardian

Following posted on 18.1.10

“Buckfast cited by Strathclyde Police in 5000 crimes” Herald
“Buckfast blamed in violent attacks” Express
“The buck stops with the monks” Scotsman
“Crime link as Buckfast revealed to have as much caffeine as eight colas” Scotsman
“Fury at 5000 Buckie crimes” Scottish Sun
“Bishop attacks morals of monks who brew Scotland’s (15%) tipple of choice” Times
“Aberdeen bishop claims Buckfast wine monks betray Christian values” Press and Journal
“Buckfast ‘in 5,000 crime reports’ ” BBC
“Why I investigated Buckfast wine” BBC

See also

The Buckfast Code, BBC Scotland (only although available on iPlayer) was broadcast 1930 GMT Monday 18 January

“Sheriff attacks soft–touch justice system” STV
“25 months jail for 13 crimes” Scottish Sun
“MSPs back sheriff over early release” Courier
“Sheriff attacks prison release policy” Law Society Journal Online