Justice and Safety

  • Prison Officers Association (Scotland) conference

    30th October 2019 by

    Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has thanked prison staff for their commitment and highlighted the recent “well-deserved” Scottish Prison Service pay agreement. Mr Yousaf has been addressing members of the Prison Officers Association (Scotland) at the union’s annual conference in Peebles today and took questions from prison officers as part of a panel session. Dedicated prison...

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  • Justice Secretary comments on homicide figures

    29th October 2019 by

    Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has responded to the publication of the latest official figures showing there were 60 cases of homicide in 2018-19 – the third lowest level since 1976. Mr Yousaf said: “While the number of homicides in Scotland is significantly lower than a decade ago – in line with the overall fall in...

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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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  • Brexit guidance for legal professionals

    14th October 2019 by

    The Scottish Government has published guidance for legal professionals to help them cope with a possible ‘no deal’ exit. Two guides cover the changes to cross border civil justice cooperation in family cases and in civil and commercial cases. Minister for Community Safety Ash Denham said: “With the UK Government refusing to take a ‘no...

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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 their...

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  • Scottish Government response to review of legal services regulation

    26th June 2019 by

    Minister for Community Safety Ash Denham has outlined the Scottish Government’s response to Esther Roberton’s review of legal services regulation in Scotland. Ms Denham said: “I’m grateful to Esther Roberton and her team for their work to consider what changes may be needed to the regulation of legal services in Scotland. We will also give...

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  • Review of police stop and search

    13th June 2019 by

    Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has welcomed an independent report into the use of police stop and search powers. The report on the Stop and Search Code of Practice, carried out by the Independent Advisory Group covers the first 12 months of the code’s operation up to 31 May 2018. Mr Yousaf said: “I am grateful to the independent advisory group, whose work has provided police, Parliament and the...

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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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