A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

A Holyrood inquiry has concluded that Scotland’s drugs crisis in prisons reflects a wider failure in health provision rather than solely a criminal justice issue. The Scottish Parliament Criminal Justice Committee said prisons are under pressure from overcrowding, rising mental health and addiction needs, inconsistent treatment and limited purposeful activity. Evidence highlighted evolving drug supply routes, including synthetic substances, contaminated mail and drone deliveries. The committee argued substance-related harm is driven by unmet health needs and fragmented systems, affecting both staff and those in custody. It called for a shift in approach, treating addiction primarily as a public health issue, with closer integration of justice, health and community services. The report urged dismantling institutional barriers and establishing unified leadership to embed recovery principles across all aspects of prison life, from healthcare and security to rehabilitation and reintegration.

 

The Scotsman

 

Former sheriff Ian Abercrombie KC has recommended that Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAIs) into custody deaths be completed within a year. This follows the suicides of Katie Allan and William Brown at HMP Polmont in 2018, with their inquiry taking six years. Mr Abercrombie described the delays as "intolerable," citing "administrative sluggishness" as a key issue.  He also suggested that legal aid should be available immediately for families affected by custody deaths. Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance says a multi-agency group will look to implement reforms.

 

BBC News

 

Calls for restrictions on under-16s accessing social media are intensifying,with Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressing concerns about the negative impact of social media on young people's health and life chances. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said the Government must "get the balance right" and "protect young people from the harm." Despite calls for tighter age limits, the Government has resisted implementing a ban, opting to monitor Australia's recent restrictions on those under 16. However, Downing Street has suggested that the Prime Minister will not stand in the way of a Conservative amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently making its way though the House of Lords, that would bring in an Australian-style ban.

 

BBC News

The Independent

The Times

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission has launched a consultation on its 2026–27 budget and operating plan, driven by rising and increasingly complex complaints and the implementation of the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025. Chair Jane Malcolm said higher workloads and new statutory powers require additional staffing and resources, alongside funding to expand the Consumer Panel’s role. Chief executive Neil Stevenson said reforms should improve efficiency and deliver long-term savings. A 12.5% levy increase is proposed, with consultation open until March 2026.

 

Press Release

The Law Society of Scotland has appointed Sarah Drummond as its first General Counsel, strengthening governance during a period of regulatory reform. Drummond joins from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, where she was Head of Legal Services, and previously worked at Tods Murray and Shepherd & Wedderburn. She will start in March, alongside other senior leadership appointments supporting the Law Society’s strategic transformation.

 

Press Release

The Scottish Government's draft Budget has drawn criticism for proposed income tax rises affecting middle and high earners. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay highlighted that the tax cut for low earners amounts to just 61p a week, stating it "wouldn't even buy you a bag of peanuts." He added that the Budget "might even have broken a world record" after a Scottish Government tax adviser said that it "may be the smallest tax cut in history." First Minister John Swinney defended the Budget, claiming it aligns with the needs of the Scottish people and emphasising that many public sector workers would benefit from the proposed changes.

 

The Scotsman

Jennifer Young, a prominent energy and construction lawyer, has left Ledingham Chalmers after 30 years to join Thorntons. Managing partner Lesley Larg described the move as a "real coup" for the firm, which is expanding its Aberdeen office. Young, who previously served as chairwoman and managing partner, expressed her excitement about contributing to Thorntons' growth in the region.

 

The Press and Journal

MFMac has appointed Lynn Simpson as director in its Licensing Team. Joining from TLT LLP, she brings 17 years’ experience across alcohol, short-term letting and gambling licences, strengthening MFMac’s specialist advice to hospitality, leisure and public-sector clients across Scotland, and advising businesses before licensing boards and committees nationwide with confidence.

 

Press Release

Mastercard, Visa and Revolut have lost a High Court challenge against the UK payments regulator’s plan to cap fees on international card transactions. The Payments Systems Regulator (PSR) said the firms had set cross-border interchange fees at "unduly high" levels and announced in December 2024 it would consult on imposing price caps. The companies argued the PSR had no legal authority to do so, but the court ruled that the regulator does have the power to impose such caps. The exact level of the caps and when they will take effect have not yet been decided. The PSR welcomed the ruling, saying it will help ensure fairer costs for UK businesses and consumers, while Visa has warned that price caps could reduce the value of card payments.

 

Daily Mail

Lawmakers have raised concerns about the capacity of British regulators to handle new cyber security demands under the proposed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. MPs questioned whether the Information Commissioner's Office could manage the increased regulatory scope, particularly for small and medium-sized service providers. Digital Minister Ian Murray announced a £210m cyber action plan to enhance public sector cyber defences. The bill includes stricter reporting requirements for essential service operators, requiring incident notifications within 24 hours. Stuart Davey, a cyber security specialist at Pinsent Masons, noted the need for organisations to prepare for the upcoming changes.

 

The Scotsman

Ofcom has welcomed the news that Grok, an AI tool on social media platform X, will no longer generate sexualised images of real people, but says a formal investigation into Grok's capabilities is "ongoing" and will look to "get answers into what went wrong and what's being done to fix it."

 

Sky News

Aberdeen City Council is suing two arms of the Federated Hermes investment group on behalf of the North East Scotland Pension Fund over losses linked to "highly risky" investments in five Swedish wind farms.

 

Financial Times

A former nun and two accomplices have been sentenced for abusing vulnerable children at care homes over 40 years ago. Carol Buirds, 75, received 15 months in prison for 13 charges, including severe assaults. Eileen McElhinney, 78, was given a 12-month probation order and 240 hours of unpaid work for five charges, while Dorothy Kane, 68, received a community service order for two charges.

 

Glasgow Evening Times

UK retailers are facing a severe fraud crisis, with nearly 50% considering downsizing or closing due to the impact of crime. A Payabl report reveals that fraud has cost businesses over £1.17bn, eroding profit margins and damaging consumer trust. Ugne Buraciene, Group CEO of Payabl, said: "The threat of fraud is firmly on the minds of business leaders." The poll shows that 87% of retailers believe addressing fraud is vital for long-term success, with many planning to increase investment in prevention measures.

 

Daily Express