A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
27th April 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Scotland pushes for tougher football entry laws
Football safety officers in Scotland are advocating for legislation to criminalise entering stadiums without tickets. This follows the Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Act 2026 in England, which imposes fines and Football Banning Orders (FBOs) for such actions. A safety officer stated: "We need to get the Football Banning Order legislation changed." The aim is to deter overcrowding and enhance safety, especially during high-stakes matches. The officers plan to discuss these issues with the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Football League to address growing concerns over crowd control and safety.

 
INDUSTRY
Contentious probate cases surge to 11,328
Legal experts at Birketts report a significant rise in contentious probate cases, with 11,328 caveats filed in 2025. The increase follows a 15-year trend, driven by complex family structures, an ageing population, and poorly drafted Wills. Barny Croft, a partner at Birketts, noted: "The generational wealth gap is certainly playing a part in the rise in will disputes." The firm’s analysis shows a 4.59% average annual growth in caveats since 2010, with 2023 marking the first year to exceed 10,000 caveats. The trend is expected to continue due to demographic changes and pandemic-related issues in Will preparation.
Drivers face £14m fines for phone use
Motorists in the UK have accumulated £14m in fines for using mobile phones while driving over the past three years. Data from a Freedom of Information request by Confused.com revealed that over 70,000 drivers were penalised between 2023 and 2025. The highest fines were issued by Greater Manchester Police, totalling £2.3m. Police Scotland handed out 7,107 fines, amounting to £1,421,400. Despite strict penalties, a OnePoll.com survey found that 59% of drivers admitted to using their phones while driving.

 
THE LAW
MPs vow to revive assisted dying bill
MPs are determined to reintroduce the assisted dying bill after it failed to progress in the House of Lords. Supporters claim over 150 MPs are ready to back it in the next private members' bill ballot. The bill, which would allow terminally ill adults to seek assistance in dying, faced significant delays due to over 1,200 amendments, primarily from seven peers. Paul Foster, Labour MP for South Ribble, who voted against the bill in its final reading in the Commons, said: "This is the Lords at its worst." He went on to accuse the Lords of blocking other legislation in an attempt "to prevent the government functioning." Calls for reform of the Lords have intensified following the failure of the bill. 
CASES
Court rules on Gaza exit petition
A Palestinian mother and her teenage son have been denied consular assistance to leave Gaza and join the boy's father in Glasgow. They petitioned the Court of Session, arguing that the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, unlawfully delayed a decision on their application under the Family Reunion Scheme. The court found that the delay was not unreasonable, citing ongoing considerations by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Home Office. The petition was ultimately refused.
CRIME
PM vows to end shoplifting spree 'free-for-all'
Sir Keir Starmer will today announce plans to combat retail crime, labelling shoplifting as a "disgraceful" attempt to cheat the system. The Government has deployed an additional 3,000 neighbourhood police officers and removed immunity for thieves stealing goods under £200. The Prime Minister will say: "That was a shoplifters' charter, and we've ended it." New legislation aims to protect retail workers, with 80% reporting verbal abuse and 10% facing assaults. The Government has also invested £5m in a policing unit to tackle shoplifting gangs. Retail trade union Usdaw welcomed the measures, saying shoplifting is in no way a victimless crime. "Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers."
FINANCE
UK car loan body accedes to redress scheme
The Finance & Leasing Association has decided not to challenge the Financial Conduct Authority’s scheme for the industry to pay billions of pounds in compensation to consumers over alleged mis-selling of loan agreements. Separately, Santander has agreed to compensate motorists mis-sold car finance deals, confirming it will not contest the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) redress scheme.
TAX
Council rent payments could change in West Lothian
A report to West Lothian Council's housing panel has set out proposals for changes in the way council rent is collected, in order to address a rise in arrears. While the council has traditionally collected rent over 48 of the year's 52 weeks - with breaks for Christmas and the end of the financial year - officers have suggested moving to a 52-week payment schedule "could make payment of rent more affordable for the most vulnerable or who are facing deepening financial pressure", while Cllr Tony Boyle also noted that this would better align with Universal Credit payments.
REGULATION
FCA joins worldwide crackdown on finfluencers
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is participating in a global initiative to combat illegal financial promotions by social media influencers, known as finfluencers. The FCA has identified 1,267 illegal adverts reaching over 2.3m UK accounts, with two-thirds linked to firms on its Warning List. The regulator has made 120 account takedown requests and is urging social media platforms to take more responsibility in blocking harmful content. Steve Smart, FCA's executive director, stated: "This collective push with international partners is vital in helping to protect millions of consumers from harm."
IMMIGRATION
Belgian official slams UK-France migrant deal
Carl Decaluwe, the governor of West Flanders, has condemned the UK's £662m deal with France to curb Channel crossings, calling it poor value. He told the Telegraph: "You get nothing; nothing... If you see the results - year after year - new records!" The agreement, signed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, aims to fund drones and police to tackle the issue. Decaluwe warned of a potential surge in crossings from Belgium and has pushed for the border with France to be closed, which would breach Schengen regulations. Meanwhile, Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, has reportedly signalled that the UK could seek talks with the Taliban to send failed asylum seekers back to Afghanistan.
Asylum seeker removals lag
Fewer than 1 in 6 rejected asylum seekers were removed from the UK last year, leaving thousands in taxpayer-funded accommodation. Research by the Conservatives revealed that many countries with return deals accept only 4% of failed asylum seekers. As of December, 4,577 rejected asylum seekers remained in state housing. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated that Labour lacks the "backbone" to expedite removals, warning it could take decades to clear the backlog. The Home Office claims nearly 60,000 illegal migrants have been removed since the 2024 election, but the pace of enforced removals remains low.
FRAUD
Authors tackle fraud through gripping tales
Acclaimed authors Clare Mackintosh, Vaseem Khan, and CL Taylor have collaborated with UK Finance's Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to create a trilogy of short stories aimed at raising awareness about scams. The stories, launching for Take Five Week 2026, are inspired by real-life fraud tactics and aim to help readers identify potential scams. Clare Mackintosh, a former police inspector, stated: "Fraud is such a widespread issue – spotting it is often about noticing the small clues." The stories will be available on the Take Five website.
TRANSPORT
One in six people distracted by phone on level crossings
A survey commissioned by Network Rail has found that around one in six people in Scotland admit to being distracted by their phone will using level crossings. The survey forms part of the organisation's 'No Second Chances' campaign, joining with British Transport Police and train operators to attempt to improve safety. Innis Keith from Network Rail Scotland said: "We want everyone to get to where they need to be safely, and that means making the right choices at level crossings. People should never take risks, never try to beat the train, and always follow the instructions in place."
OTHER
Offord caught driving untaxed vehicle
Malcolm Offord, the leader of Reform UK in Scotland, has been caught driving an untaxed £40,000 Range Rover. The vehicle's tax expired on April 1, leaving it uninsured for nearly three weeks. A Reform UK spokesman attributed the lapse to an "administrative oversight," claiming renewal correspondence was lost. Offord took steps to rectify the situation once aware. The Scottish Tories criticised him, stating he should be "red-faced" for his negligence.

 

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