Justice and Safety

  • Minister for Community Safety Ash Denham

    25th March 2020 by

    The Scottish Government recognises the important role played by legal aid providers in supporting their clients and our justice system. I also recognise that those offering legally aided services now face a time of unprecedented uncertainty, and require our support. I am keen to find ways to support cash flow in order to help alleviate...

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  • Christmas in Secure Care – guest blog from young people at Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton

    23rd December 2019 by

    Guest blog from young people at the Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton. https://twitter.com/GSCBishopton/status/1207674651121520645 The festive season is such a happy time of year, where families and friends enjoy spending time together. However, for some it can also be one of the most difficult times. This is especially true for young people living in secure care. The...

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  • Vulnerable Witnesses Act to come into force in January

    18th November 2019 by

    Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf and Lady Dorrian, Lord Justice Clerk today officially opened the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service’s new Glasgow Evidence and Hearings Suite. It provides facilities to let child witnesses pre-record their evidence and for vulnerable witnesses to give evidence remotely away from the formality of a court room. The suite also provides...

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  • Working together to challenge human trafficking in Scotland

    14th October 2019 by

    Working together to challenge human trafficking in Scotland - graphic text human trafficking is closer than you think

    by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf Human trafficking, in all its forms, is unacceptable in 21st century Scotland. We want to ensure that Scotland’s response, rooted in the rule of law, is as effective as possible in removing this stain on modern society. It is often an international and cross-border crime which can be challenging to...

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  • Throughcare support for people leaving prison

    25th September 2019 by

    Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has welcomed news that two third sector partnerships will extend the range of support they deliver for people leaving prison. The ‘New Routes’ and ‘Shine’ partnerships, led by Wise Group and Sacro respectively, will make support available for more prisoners released from short term sentences of up to four years. The...

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  • Judicial factors consultation launched

    28th August 2019 by

    A consultation has been launched on modernising the law around judicial factors to bring clarity, accessibility and efficiency to an important but outmoded area of the law. A judicial factor is a person appointed by the court to hold, manage, administer and protect property in circumstances where it is not possible, practicable or sensible for...

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  • Improving Scotland’s collective response to child victims

    17th July 2019 by

    First step in developing national Barnahus standards for Scotland.   Earlier this year, the Scottish Government commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Care Inspectorate to develop a set of standards to introduce the Barnahus concept to Scotland as part of our commitment to improving how the criminal justice system serves children, young people and...

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  • Justice Secretary responds to Home Detention Curfew reports

    30th May 2019 by

    Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has welcomed the publication of progress reviews by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) into the arrangements for home detention curfew (HDC) in Scotland. Both independent reviews identify good progress against the recommendations made by the Inspectorates in October last year. The...

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  • Expert Review of Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for Young People in Custody

    21st May 2019 by

    Responding to the findings of the Expert Review of the Provision of Mental Health Services, for young people entering and in custody at HMP YOI Polmont, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I am grateful to HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland and Dr Helen Smith for the breadth and depth of work on this detailed report....

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  • One week to go until new domestic abuse law comes into force

    25th March 2019 by

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Cabinet Secretary for Justice Humza Yousaf visited Glasgow East Women’s Aid this morning (25 March 2019) to hear how staff are preparing for the Domestic Abuse Act coming into force in seven days. The Act creates a new offence of domestic abuse which covers psychological harm as well as physical...

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