A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
3rd February 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Scottish Government votes against sex buyer legislation
The Scottish Government plans to oppose the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill, which aims to criminalise the purchase of sex. Independent MSP Ash Regan introduced the bill, proposing fines or prison for buyers. Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown stated: "We support the fundamental principle of criminalising the purchase of sex," but expressed concerns about the bill's provisions. With limited time left in the parliamentary session, the Government believes it cannot amend the bill adequately. Scottish Labour supports the bill, while the Scottish Greens oppose it, calling it "dangerous" and "exceptionally flawed."

 
POLICING
Prostitution bill could cost £320m, warns Police Scotland
Police Scotland has cautioned that Ash Regan's prostitution bill could incur costs of up to £320m. Inspector Paul Thomson presented three cost scenarios to Holyrood's criminal justice committee. Category A, involving local checks, could cost between £166,440 and £400,672. Category B, for local investigations, ranges from £9.7m to £23.9m. Category C, requiring specialist resources, could reach £321.3m. Thomson noted that these figures are estimates based on potential calls and data from Adult Services Websites. He stated: "Prostitution, along with most VAWG-related criminality, is vastly underreported."
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PRISONS
Sarwar vows to make women's prisons single-sex
Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has pledged to ban transgender prisoners from women's jails if elected First Minister. He said that prisons should be "single-sex, based on biological sex." This announcement precedes a Court of Session hearing where For Women Scotland is challenging the Scottish Government's guidelines on transgender prisoner management. Mr Sarwar emphasised the need to protect women in custody, many of whom have faced trauma. He asserted: "Within days of being elected, Scottish Labour would ensure prisons are single-sex." The Scottish Government argues that blanket rules may violate human rights.
COURTS
Reed: AI poses trust challenge for courts
Lord Reed, President of the Supreme Court, has emphasised the importance of trust in the legal system during a panel discussion. He warned that the integration of AI in judicial decisions could undermine public confidence, saying: "If we don't have proper checks [on AI], we could destroy trust." Lord Reed highlighted the complexities of legal questions that AI cannot resolve. He also noted the growing hostility towards courts, exacerbated by populism. Despite concerns, an Ipsos Mori poll indicated that 59% of the public still trusts the Supreme Court to perform its duties effectively.
CASES
Family demands truth in Caldwell case
The family of Emma Caldwell is demanding transparency from Police Scotland following a meeting with Lord Scott KC, who chairs the inquiry into her murder. Emma was killed in 2005, but Iain Packer was only convicted in 2024. The initial investigation faced criticism for failing to apprehend Packer sooner. Lord Scott stated: "This inquiry is independent of government... I will discharge my duties as chair impartially." Margaret Caldwell expressed concern over the inquiry's terms, insisting it must examine both Strathclyde Police and Police Scotland's actions.
Drivers fight for workers' rights
Dozens of eCourier drivers are pursuing legal action against the Royal Mail-owned service, claiming they are misclassified as self-employed. The 46 drivers argue that their work conditions indicate they should be classified as workers, which would grant them rights such as minimum wage and holiday pay. Mandy Bhattal, an employment partner at Leigh Day, said the firm "is of the opinion that eCourier is misclassifying their drivers as self-employed, when in reality the drivers are able to point to various factors that indicate they are workers." The claim is supported by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain.
Convicted boxer faces justice for abuse
Jonathan Slowey, a 35-year-old former boxer, has been convicted of 14 charges, including the rape of three women. The High Court in Glasgow heard how he subjected his victims to severe physical and sexual violence from 2012 to 2023. Prosecutor Kath Harper KC described his actions as creating "a cocktail of fear and submission." Slowey denied the accusations, claiming a conspiracy against him.
Siddiq sentenced to four years
Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has been sentenced to four years in jail by a court in Bangladesh for allegedly attempting to acquire land for her relatives. The ruling, which occurred in her absence, is unlikely to result in her imprisonment due to the lack of an extradition treaty between the UK and Bangladesh. A Labour spokesman said they "cannot recognise this judgement," citing a lack of fair legal process. Ms Siddiq's siblings received seven-year sentences for similar charges.
TAX
New mansion tax divides opinion
Ross Wallace, Senior Solicitor at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, explains in an article for The Scotsman the differences between England’s and Scotland’s upcoming "mansion taxes", both set for April 2028. In England, the High Value Council Tax Surcharge applies to homes valued at £2m and above, with charges from £2,500 to £7,500 annually, calculated via desktop valuations. Scotland’s version targets properties over £1m, adding two new Council Tax bands, with a £5m revaluation budget for the highest-value homes. While both taxes aim to address housing inequality, concerns exist about fairness, particularly for long-standing homeowners or high-value city properties that are not truly wealthy mansions. Scotland’s revaluation is praised for updating Council Tax bands, but uncertainties remain over final rates, administrative processes, and the tax’s broader impact on the housing market.
EDUCATION
Legal warning for Scottish parents on school attendance
Parents in Scotland must ensure their children attend school regularly to avoid legal consequences, including fines or imprisonment. Glow Scotland warns that unauthorised absences can lead to local authority action. They may issue an attendance order or refer cases to the Children's Reporter. If absences persist, parents could face court proceedings. Parents are encouraged to communicate with schools and support their children’s transition to school. "It is important to know that it is possible" to face legal action, experts stress.
BREXIT
Brexit reset talks intensify
UK and EU officials are intensifying negotiations over a Brexit reset deal. While ministers aim to finalise a deal by the end of May, discussions have stalled on contentious topics like genetically modified food and the role of European courts. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the UK's Minister for European Union Relations, and his EU counterpart, Maros Sefcovic, have agreed to hold fortnightly discussions in a bid to drive progress on the talks and address key areas of difference between the two sides. Mr Thomas-Symonds said: "We want to step the political engagement up even further to iron out issues." He added that the Government is taking a "ruthlessly pragmatic approach" to the negotiations, with a focus on what could deliver tangible benefits for the UK.

 

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