Tag: Scottish Government

Scottish students gain STEM Skills Experience with TCS’ Digital Explorers

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation, announced that it engaged more than 900 Scottish pupils from over 20 schools in Lothians, Central, Strathclyde and Fife, in its renowned Digital Explorers Programme.

At the event, students aged 11-18, were joined by a host of volunteers from TCS and Lloyds Banking Group, as well as special guest, Minister for Public Finance & Digital Economy and MSP, Kate Forbes. Continue reading Scottish students gain STEM Skills Experience with TCS’ Digital Explorers

Extra funding to tackle homelessness this winter

Homelessness is to be targeted with £164,000 in extra funding this winter. A range of programmes across Scotland will benefit, helping people especially during winter who are rough sleeping and often have backgrounds of significant trauma.

The funding is in addition to the significant amount of money which local authorities receive from the Scottish Government to support people experiencing homelessness.  Continue reading Extra funding to tackle homelessness this winter

Scottish jury research: findings of UK’s largest ever mock jury study published

Major research into how juries reach decisions has found that the size of the jury, the number of verdicts available and the type of majority required may all have an effect on the outcome of finely balanced trials.

The study of Scotland’s jury system, in which cases are heard by 15 jurors with a choice of three verdicts returned by a simple majority, suggests that:

• reducing jury size from 15 to 12, as is the norm in most English language jurisdictions, might lead to more individual jurors switching their position towards the majority view
• asking juries to reach a unanimous or near unanimous verdict might tilt more jurors in favour of acquittal
• removing the not proven verdict might incline more jurors towards a guilty verdict in finely balanced trials

It also found inconsistent views on the meaning of not proven and how it differed from not guilty.

Commenting on the research, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I am grateful to everyone who gave up their time for this major piece of research, which is just one part of our work to improve Scotland’s justice system for all.

“We will now engage with legal professionals and the wider public to consider all of the findings. We are organising events around the country and I am keen to hear from a wide range of people, especially those with personal experience of the criminal justice system.

“In particular, we will now engage in serious discussions on all of these findings including whether we should move to a two verdicts system. My mind is open and we will not pre-judge the outcome of those conversations.”

The research was undertaken on behalf of the Scottish Government by Ipsos MORI Scotland and researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Warwick.

Nearly 1,000 people took part in the jury research. This included 863 of these participants being ‘mock jurors’ in one of 64 staged jury deliberations, with each watching a video of either a Scottish rape or assault trial.

The fictional but realistic trials were finely balanced, in order to encourage debate about guilt and acquittal, and to maximise the likelihood that jurors would consider the difference between the not guilty and not proven verdicts.

Rachel Ormston, Research Director at Ipsos MORI, said: “It was a privilege to be involved in the most extensive programme of mock jury research carried out in the UK.

“The report presents detailed findings on how the unique features of the Scottish system impact on juror decision-making, and as such will allow decisions about any potential future changes to be taken on the basis of robust evidence.”

Fiona Leverick, Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Glasgow, said: “In shining a light on the ways in which jurors understand and use the not proven verdict, this study will help inform ongoing debates about this verdict.

“It also provides insight into areas where jurors may require additional support or guidance to avoid legal misunderstandings.”

Scottish Jury Research: Findings From a Large-Scale Mock Jury Study involved 64 mock juries and 969 individual participants. It is the first to consider the unique nature of the Scottish jury system with 15 jurors, three verdicts and a simple majority. The report sets out the researchers’ findings but does not make any recommendations.

The study was commissioned by the Scottish Government in response to Lord Bonomy’s Post Corroboration Safeguards Review, which recommended that research should be carried out to ensure that any changes to Scotland’s jury system should be made only on a fully informed basis, including the impact having a three verdict system has on decision making.

scottish-jury-research-findings-large-scale-mock-jury-study

 

Scotland prepares for No Deal Brexit

A report has been published detailing the range of measures being put in place by the Scottish Government to mitigate a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

The overview document outlines the depth and scope of work underway, suggests what actions the UK Government should take and sets out the challenges Scotland may nevertheless face in the event of a ‘no deal’ on 31 October. Continue reading Scotland prepares for No Deal Brexit

Scots want tougher controls on fireworks

Public concerns over animal welfare highlighted

A clear majority of Scots want to see tighter controls on the use and sale of fireworks.

A YouGov survey commissioned by the Scottish government and involving a representative sample of the Scottish population, showed 71% of adults supported tighter controls on the sale of fireworks to the public, with over half backing a ban.

And out of more than 16,000 respondents to a Scottish Government consultation on the issue:

  • 94% want to see tighter controls on the sale of fireworks
  • 93% want to see stronger regulations to ensure animals are not caused unnecessary suffering as a result of fireworks misuse
  • 92% feel there should be tighter controls on fireworks use
  • 87% would support an outright ban on the sale of fireworks

Concerns over the impact of fireworks on those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autism were also highlighted.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham said: “The results of our consultation and survey demonstrate overwhelming public support for a change in how fireworks are sold and used.

“While legislation on the sale of fireworks is reserved to Westminster, I will work with stakeholders to look at the powers we have to drive forward action to reduce the damage caused by fireworks misuse.

“The consultation also highlighted the wider harm that can be caused to members of our communities, including our ex-service people and those with underlying mental health issues. The serious distress and occasional injury caused to animals around times of celebration has also been highlighted as a specific concern.

“I will update Parliament shortly on our intended action to ensure fireworks are used safely and appropriately.”

Scottish SPCA head of education and policy Gilly Mendes Ferreira said: “We’re pleased so many members of the public have voiced their opinion and cited animal welfare as one of the reasons to restrict the public sale and use of fireworks. For years we have supported tighter restrictions on public use due to the stress and anxiety that can be caused to animals.

“Over the years the Scottish SPCA has received a handful of calls relating to an animal that has been injured due to the direct misuse of fireworks. The majority of calls relate to animals that have become injured through trying to escape the noise of fireworks.

“Incidents include dogs running on to roads and being hit by oncoming traffic, birds, such as swans, flying into electricity pylons and horses being badly injured after running through barbed wire fences. We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to improve animal welfare surrounding the use of fireworks.”

The Scottish Government’s consultation on fireworks ran for 13 weeks and received 16,420 responses from members of the public and stakeholder organisations. The process included 29 public events around Scotland.

A consultation on fireworks in Scotland: your experiences, your ideas, your views. Analysis of responses to the public consultation exercise