Legal Matters Scotland
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23rd October 2025

A free early morning round up of news for legal professionals across Scotland.
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CASES
Sheku Bayoh’s family accuses police of ‘sabotage’
The family of Sheku Bayoh has condemned Scotland's police and prosecutors after the resignation of Lord Bracadale as chair of the inquiry into his 2015 death in custody. At a press conference, Bayoh's relatives accused the solicitor general, the deputy chief prosecutor, and Police Scotland - backed by the Scottish Police Federation - of forcing out Bracadale over his perceived impartiality and close engagement with the family. Bracadale cited persistent criticisms and an impending judicial review as reasons for stepping down. The Bayoh family's solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said Lord Bracadale stepping down represents a "warning shot" from police to other judges who may be considering taking up the role of the inquiry chair.
Former council leader guilty of fraud
Andrew Polson, a former Conservative councillor for East Dunbartonshire, has been found guilty of a romance fraud totalling £188,000. He deceived Ann Kelly, 72, into giving him money for joint property investments while secretly placing the properties solely in his name. At Glasgow Sheriff Court, he was also convicted of embezzling £9,018.47 from Revival FM, a charity radio station where he served as a director. Sheriff Paul Reid said: "You defrauded someone you were in a relationship with for a considerable amount of money."
Man jailed for buying illegal stun gun for TikTok videos
Kyle McGrath, 28, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for possessing an illegal weapon, a high-voltage stun gun, for online video stunts. McGrath pleaded guilty to contravening the Firearms Act 1968, intending to shock himself with the 500,000-volt weapon to create content for TikTok and YouTube to attract followers and make money. The weapon, a ScorpyMax stun gun, was found in McGrath's bedside drawer. The court found that a quarter-second jolt from the weapon could cause muscle contractions and immobilise someone.

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INDUSTRY
AI tools outshine lawyers in research
According to a new benchmarking report by Vals AI, artificial intelligence (AI) tools outperformed practising lawyers in legal research tasks. The study involved four AI tools, including ChatGPT, which answered 200 legal questions. AI scored between 74% and 78% overall, while lawyers averaged 69%. On accuracy, AI achieved 80% compared to 71% for lawyers. However, lawyers excelled in nuanced questions, outperforming AI by nine percentage points. The report highlights concerns over lawyers using AI-generated citations in court. Vals AI noted that some leading legal tech firms did not participate in the study.
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POLICING
Officer wins £210,000 damages claim against Police Scotland
Police officer Mark Card has been awarded £210,000 in damages after being injured while confronting an armed suspect in Inverness. The incident, which took place in May 2019, occurred after Card was incorrectly told by a police control room that the suspect was in handcuffs. On arrival, the man threw an "unidentified object" at Card and repeatedly struck him on the head and body. Lawyers for Card argued that armed officers should have been deployed, while Police Scotland claimed he had not fully followed procedures and training. Sheriff Nicol ruled that officers in Dundee had acted negligently in recording the situation and failing to send armed backup, but found Card 40% responsible, leading to a reduced damages award.
COMPENSATION
Labour urged to act on IHT issue for infected blood scandal
The Government promised that compensation payments for victims of the infected blood scandal would be free from tax, writes Charlotte Gifford in the Telegraph. But delays have meant that many of the relatives of those victims are now elderly and could soon die, leaving their families facing demands to hand back almost half of the compensation payment to the state via an inheritance tax charge. An exemption from inheritance tax granted to victims has not been extended to subsequent beneficiaries of the deceased person’s estate - the so-called "secondary transfer" issue – a technical flaw which experts say needs to be resolved. Jade Gani, of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, said: "Families should not be further penalised due to delays outside their control. This is about preventing bereaved families from being actively punished by a tax system that, in effect, rewards the Government for delays."
TECHNOLOGY
CMA targets Google and Apple duopoly
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has designated Google and Apple as having "strategic market status," allowing for potential regulatory changes to enhance competition in mobile ecosystems. This follows investigations into their operating systems, Android and iOS, which dominate the UK market. Oliver Bethell, senior competition director at Google, expressed concern over the implications of the CMA's decision, saying: "The CMA's next steps will be crucial if the UK's digital markets regime is to meet its promise of being pro-growth and pro-innovation." A statement from Apple read: "Apple faces fierce competition in every market where we operate, and we work tirelessly to create the best products, services and user experience. The UK's adoption of EU-style rules would undermine that, leaving users with weaker privacy and security, delayed access to new features, and a fragmented, less seamless experience." The CMA aims to address issues like app store commissions and review processes.
FIRMS
Harper Macleod picks up Cup of Kindness
Highland law firm Harper Macleod has taken over the Cup of Kindness from housebuilder Tulloch Homes to support mental health charity Mikeysline. Tulloch Homes raised over £5,400 during a three-month fundraising campaign. The initiative forms part of Mikeysline’s 10th anniversary ‘Bee the Change’ campaign, encouraging small actions to improve mental wellbeing.
Clyde & Co moves to Saltire Court
Clyde & Co is relocating its Edinburgh office from Albany House to Saltire Court, a prominent Grade A building in the Exchange District. The firm has signed a 10-year lease and plans to occupy the new space later this year.
HOUSING
Housing secretary hears Raac concerns
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan has held her first in-person talks with Aberdeen residents whose homes in the Balnagask area are set for demolition due to potentially dangerous Raac concrete. More than 500 homes are affected, and residents have expressed anger at the council’s compensation offers, which they say could leave them tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket. The Scottish Government recently agreed a £10m funding deal with Aberdeen City Council to support homeowners, though how the money will be used is still under discussion.
ECONOMY
UK inflation holds steady, sending borrowing costs down
A fall in the price of food and drink offset a rise in fuel costs to keep overall inflation unchanged for the third month in a row in September. The Office for National Statistics said inflation held steady at 3.8% - below the 4% expected by the Bank of England and economists polled by Reuters. The figure prompted traders to raise their bets on a cut to interest rates at the Monetary Policy Committee’s next meeting in December. The softer reading also brought down government borrowing costs, alleviating some of the pressure on the public finances.   
OTHER
UK and Scottish governments dispute £25m cost of Trump visit
The Scottish and UK governments are at odds over who should cover policing costs for Donald Trump and JD Vance's recent visits to Scotland, which Police Scotland estimates cost £24.1m. Scotland’s finance secretary, Shona Robison, is seeking reimbursement from the UK Treasury, citing precedent from Trump's 2018 visit and arguing the trip had significant diplomatic elements, including meetings with political leaders and trade discussions. The UK Government maintains the visits were private and therefore the Scottish Government is responsible, noting that official security funding applies only to formally invited state visits. Scottish ministers and the Scottish Police Federation warn that absorbing the costs would strain Police Scotland's budget and undermine its ability to provide regular policing services.
 


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