News

The latest statistical bulletin released on the 24th September revealed that motor vehicle offences accounted for 47 per cent of all offences recorded in Scotland during 2018/19. Despite this, there has been an eight per cent drop in the number of motor vehicle offences recorded since 2017/18 – from 127,015 to 117,015. These figures are also down 60 per cent from data recorded in 2013/14.

There has been a 57 per cent rise in the number of ‘account takeover’ cases this year; where digital scammers have used emails, smartphone apps and texts to obtain personal data and take over people’s credit card accounts. The research, which was conducted by KPMG in their latest Fraud Barometer, also noted an increase in the number of fraud cases where the commercialisation of internet crimes has been a factor, with criminals advertising their services on the ‘dark web’.

The Scottish Sentencing Council will reveal how judges arrive at their sentencing decisions and will ask criminal justice organisations, charities, academics, and the wider public if they agree.

A pilot scheme has been launched in Aberdeen to clampdown on drug dealers exploiting people as suppliers, in what is known as “cuckooing”. After the success of initiatives like Operation Corner in Peterhead and Fraserburgh, Police Scotland are now trying to replicate the criminal strategy in Aberdeen.

The Lord President, Lord Carloway, has commissioned a review of how Scottish courts conduct rape and other sexual offence cases. Lord Carloway hopes to develop proposals on how to improve the way cases are handled for complainers and witnesses, without compromising the rights of the accused.