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Martin, Johnston & Socha Insights

Criminal Law news & updates from Martin, Johnstone & Socha's expert criminal defence solicitors.

One Year Old Stopped in Stop-and-Search

Almost 20,000 people were stopped and searched by police in 2014, with a one-year-old being stopped in North Ayrshire as part of police strategic tactics to prevent crime.

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1840 Hits

Police Officers Accused of Criminal Offences

Police Officers across Scotland have been suspended or have duties restricted following allegations of rape, stalking and sexual assault.

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2097 Hits

Scottish Rugby Star Guilty of Assault

Scottish International, Ryan Wilson, has been found guilty of assaulting two men in Glasgow’s West End.

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2727 Hits

Scottish Surveillance Figures Down

Figures obtained on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act (Ripsa) have shown that there has been a decline in the use of surveillance powers in Scotland. 

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1925 Hits

Edinburgh Postcode Hotspot for Robberies in Scotland

An area of Edinburgh has been found to be the worst area for robberies in Scotland following analysis from over 2.7 million homes.

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3193 Hits

Hate Crime Against Jews Up 300% in Scotland

According to a Jewish leaders in Scotland the number of anti-semitic hate crimes has risen by 300%.

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1906 Hits

More than 1,200 Under-10s Carry Out Crime

New figures have shown that more than 1,200 youngsters under the age of 10 were detected in Scotland in the last two years. 

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1742 Hits

27% Decrease in Drink Driving in Scotland

 

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2049 Hits

Scottish Court Delays Punishing Victims

Cutbacks and a lack of resources are punishing victims who are having to wait longer for cases of domestic and sexual abuse to be concluded due to a lack of spending according to critics.

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1962 Hits

Scotland Sets New Laws on Social Media Crime

The Scottish Crown Office has laid down the law when it comes to social media by producing guidelines to clarify what counts as a criminal offence through the media platform, with a warning that crimes on social media are taken as seriously as those offline.

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2647 Hits

Changes to Scots Law Criticised By Experts

Changes to Scots law that could see individuals being convicted without the corroboration of any evidence has been criticised by legal experts. 

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2262 Hits

Airgun Law to Fall Short on Tackling Criminal Misuse?

The new legislation licensing airguns will fall short in tackling the criminal misuse of the weapons according to a spokesman from the Scottish Police. 

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1821 Hits

Scottish Crime Recording “Good” According to Independent Crime Audit

Police Scotland have received praise from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) as figures revealed that the quality of most crime recording was "good" according to the Crime Audit 2014.

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1668 Hits

Police Officer to be Jailed for Sex Attack

 

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2278 Hits

Widow Secures £1.5 million Damages After Husband’s Murder

A widow has secured a £1.5 million settlement following her husband's murder at the hands of her brother in law. 

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  2553 Hits
2553 Hits

UK Government Paper Reveals No Link Between Tough Laws & Illegal Drug Use Levels

A Government report has revealed data that suggests there is no obvious link between tough laws on personal possession and levels of illegal drug use.

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1841 Hits

Pistorius Trial: South African v Scottish Sentencing

On Tuesday 21st October 2014 Oscar Pistorius was sentenced to five years in jail for manslaughter by Judge Thokozile Masipa in Pretoria’s High Court. The duration of this sentence and its putative effect has seen much discussion in the media.

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2032 Hits

Overseas Drivers Escape Speeding Offences

Overseas drivers have escaped 23,295 speeding offences since January 2013, the equivalent of £2.3 million worth of speeding tickets, according to road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

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1958 Hits

Scotland Passes New Act to Combat Forced Marriage

On the 30th September 2014 the Scottish Parliament passed the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which makes it illegal to use threats or coercion to attempt to force someone into marriage. MSP’s passed the Westminster legislation on the issue after it was enacted in England Wales in June. 

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1770 Hits

Getting Away With Murder? - The Oscar Pistorius Trial

A South African Judge determined that Oscar Pistorius was not guilty of premeditated murder, after firing four fatal shots into his bathroom with his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp inside. The judge had to decide between “dollus eventualis” (common murder), culpable homicide or acquittal after clearing Pistorius of the premeditated murder charge.

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  2053 Hits
2053 Hits

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