A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
19th May 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Swinney considers tougher measures after Celtic disorder
John Swinney said the Scottish Government will consider introducing legislation to criminalise pitch invasions following disorder involving some Celtic supporters after Saturday’s match at Celtic Park. Fans entered the pitch before the final whistle and later gathered in Glasgow’s Trongate area, where Police Scotland made 14 arrests linked to offences including rioting, assault and weapons possession. Two police officers and three members of the public required hospital treatment. Swinney said ministers would review football banning order reforms and work with clubs, football authorities and councils to prevent similar incidents. Glasgow City Council defended its decision not to create a city-centre fanzone, while noting attendance at unofficial celebrations was lower than in previous years.

 
PRISONS
Scottish Green MSP sparks prison abolition outrage
Scottish Green MSP Cara McKee has ignited controversy by supporting the abolition of prisons, arguing that criminals should receive support instead of being incarcerated. Her comments follow those of colleague Kate Nevens, who previously called for the complete dismantling of the prison system in Scotland. Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr condemned the remarks as "dangerous fantasy politics," stressing the need for prisons to ensure public safety. Nevens defended her stance, stating that prisons should only be a last resort. An SNP spokesman reiterated the importance of prisons in the justice system, calling the abolition idea "plain daft."

 
COURTS
Supreme Court holds sessions in Glasgow
The UK Supreme Court is sitting in Glasgow this week, with hearings taking place in the Burgh Hall at the city chambers until Thursday. The move marks one of the court’s occasional sittings outside London and follows a previous visit to Edinburgh in 2017. Court President Lord Reed is joined by several senior judges, including Lord Stephens, Lady Rose, Lady Simler, Lord Doherty and former deputy president Lord Hodge. Members of the public can attend hearings on a first-come basis. Cases being heard include a dispute involving Glasgow’s Rogano restaurant over responsibility for flood damage repairs. Glasgow City Council is hosting the court at the city chambers during the four-day visit.
WORKFORCE
School staff assaults rise across Scotland
More than 35,000 physical assaults on school staff were recorded across Scottish schools during the 2024-25 academic year, according to figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests. Data from 25 councils showed incidents rising from 22,575 in 2022-23 to 35,084 this year, with Glasgow City Council and City of Edinburgh Council reporting the highest totals. Teaching staff told the BBC some incidents resulted in serious injuries, including facial fractures and broken noses. Teaching union NASUWT said the figures could understate the scale of the issue because some incidents go unreported. COSLA said councils support staff experiencing abuse, while the Scottish Government said progress was being made through its school violence action plan.
FIRMS
Gilson Gray expands with new partner
Gilson Gray has appointed Peter Millican as a new partner in its London office, enhancing its corporate law capabilities. Millican, who has 30 years of experience, will focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and corporate finance. He joins from Sherrards and aims to strengthen client relationships in sectors like engineering and renewables. The appointment is part of the firm's strategy to expand its presence in England, following several recent hires.
CRIME
Police continue action on Livingston antisocial behaviour
Councillors in Livingston have heard that antisocial behaviour involving teenagers remains an issue around the town’s shopping centre. Police said regular patrols are continuing alongside joint work with youth services, schools and centre security staff. Sgt Lee Brodie told a local area committee that two youths were recently arrested carrying weapons at the centre and later given bail conditions preventing them from returning. Partnership work with youth justice services is continuing.
FINANCE
Edinburgh businesses explore Old Town BID
Business leaders in Edinburgh have launched a survey to gauge support for creating a Business Improvement District (BID) in the Old Town area. Campaign organisers say a BID could help businesses work collectively with City of Edinburgh Council on issues including cleanliness, antisocial behaviour and tourism management around the Royal Mile. The initiative has backing from council leader Jane Meagher and senior council officials. Organisers said the survey is intended to test business appetite before any detailed proposals are developed. If sufficient support is shown, a formal ballot on establishing the BID could take place in 2027.
TECHNOLOGY
UK firms face £3.7bn cyberattack costs
Large UK businesses incurred £3.7bn in legal costs due to shareholder lawsuits over cyberattacks last year, according to a report by Gallagher and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Total losses from cyber incidents reached £11.7bn, with direct trading disruptions costing £5.4bn. Gallagher's executive director, Laura Parris, noted that the repercussions extend beyond immediate recovery, stating: "The legal, financial and reputational fallout can drag on for months." Firms spent £226m on external support and £51m on internal resources to manage these incidents.
Ofcom cracks down on intimate image abuse
Ofcom is set to revise its codes of practice to address the rising issue of intimate image abuse, including "revenge porn" and AI-generated deepfakes. The regulator noted an urgent need to combat the increasing prevalence of such content online. Campaign group End Violence Against Women and Girls has threatened legal action, claiming Ofcom has not adequately protected women and girls. Ofcom will encourage the use of "hash-matching" technology to prevent the circulation of non-consensual intimate images. Campaigners welcomed the move but said the use of technology to block such content should be mandated.
Lawyers face penalties for AI misuse
Immigration lawyers have been cautioned about severe penalties for using AI tools like ChatGPT. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) updated its guidelines, highlighting risks of errors and breaches of client confidentiality. The warning follows incidents involving lawyers, such as Tahir Mohammed from TMF Immigration Lawyers, who admitted to using AI for legal research. During a tribunal, he initially denied using AI but later acknowledged "inadvertently" employing it. The BSB stressed that uploading confidential documents to chatbots could lead to ownership claims by technology providers.
PLANNING
Scottish Borders Council challenges wind farm approval
Scottish Borders Council is pursuing a judicial review after the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit (ECU) approved a wind farm with eight turbines up to 200m tall at Ditcher Law, near Oxton. The council formally objected, citing concerns about the site's designation as a Special Landscape Area and its potential negative impact on local residents. David Robertson, chief executive of Scottish Borders Council, said: "The decision to seek a judicial review regarding approval of this development has not been taken lightly." Local opposition includes claims of excessive noise and visual impacts on nearby homes.

 
STV
AND FINALLY...
Inverness councillors debate gull controls
Highland Council has agreed an amended gull management policy for Inverness and Nairn following debate over the impact of seagulls on public spaces. Councillors discussed concerns about litter, outdoor dining and pedestrian areas, with opposition leader Alasdair Christie criticising the gradual approach to tackling the issue. Christie said residents and businesses were increasingly affected by gull activity in the city centre. The revised policy aims to improve the implementation of measures to manage the bird population across the area.

 

Legal Slice delivers the latest, most relevant, and useful legal intelligence each weekday morning with intelligence, designed specifically for legal professionals, including attorneys, practice owners, judges, legal scholars, and influencers.

Content is selected to an exacting brief from hundreds of influential media sources and summarised by experienced journalists into an easy-to-read digest email. The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in Legal Slice, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on Twitter.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities within Legal Slice, please get in touch via email sales team

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe