Crown Office

Dorothy Bain KC (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Attacks on former lord advocate over Murrell case ‘deeply unfair’

Edinburgh High Court sign

High Court cases to double as Crown braces for 'significant' pressure

Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris is head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in Scotland

Exclusive Crown faces cutting victim service and support for unsolved cases

The SNP is spending £2.7 million over two years giving a free school bag to every P1 child in Scotland

Looming £6m cut to prosecution service shows SNP has wrong priorities Scotsman comment

Jen Inglis, mother of Calum Inglis, holds a picture of him outside the Crown Office in Edinburgh

Firm and health board admit criminal charges after inmate Covid death

Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris KC

Domestic abuse charges at 'crisis point' as cases reach 11-year high

Stacy Hunter was murdered at her home in Renfrewshire last month

Murdered Stacy Hunter was 'failed by justice system', says family

The Lockerbie bombing claimed 270 lives.

Lockerbie bombing: Suspect's alleged confession to be used in US trial

Fettes College

Former pupils' 'frustration' as abuse teacher fails to appear in court

Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris KC.

Law Society calls for consultation on dual role of Lord Advocate

Peter Murrell was silent as detectives grilled him on 'outrageous' pen spending

Watch: Murrell silent as detectives grilled him on £19k pen spending

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said it was creating modern, trauma-informed environments that 'work better for victims, witnesses and staff'. Picture: PA

Exclusive Crown Office to sever office leases in cost-cutting measure

Hannah McInally

Tribute to teacher, 24, as inquiry into death during pregnancy begins

Labour replace Glasgow candidate after fraud charge

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC

Lord Advocate 'to fully set out' communications amid Murrell case row

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Police now investigating six patient deaths at scandal-hit hospital

Ash Regan MSP

Prostitution: Regan blasts former party as MSPs refuse to back bill

Exclusive Around 3,200 Covid deaths still being probed by Crown Office unit

Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell

Police chief: Rapists 'should and will' be recorded as biological men

Claire Inglis, who was brutally murdered by her boyfriend Christopher McGowan.

Swinney urged to deal with bail 'blind spot' after young mum's murder

Colin Smyth MSP

MSP in court accused of possessing indecent images and voyeurism

Police Scotland were in attendance at a Palestine-related protest in Glasgow last month. Picture: John Devlin

Exclusive Crown Office warns against politicians 'undermining rule of law'

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has been charged in connection with alleged embezzlement of party funds

SNP may never repay Peter Murrell's loan as 'deep deficit' revealed

Peter Murrell

Cost to Crown Office of SNP finances probe soars

The Lord Advocate has defended a presumption against under 18s being prosecuted for rape and violent offences

Law chief defends presumption against children facing rape prosecution

Sir Keir Starmer’s Government was looking at potentially fast-tracking the return of prisoners to their home countries - and now talks have been held with the Scottish Government

'Error' to wipe trans murderer's criminal record, says SNP minister

Dr Ju Young Um and one of the hidden cameras

Doctor who hid cameras in bathroom air fresheners jailed for voyeurism

The family of Calum Inglis, including father Alan (second left) mother Jen (second right), sister Frances Marr alongside lawyer Aamer Anwar outside the Crown Office in Edinburgh after meeting Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC

Family welcome prosecution of private jail where inmate died of Covid

Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney have spoken about the former first minister being cleared in the SNP finances probe

Sturgeon's 'vindication' as Swinney says SNP in 'clearer position'

Police officers outside the home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell as part of Operation Branchform.

John Curtice: Operation Branchform could hit SNP's election spending

The High Court in Glasgow

Civil servants 'working until midnight' due to court backlogs

The Scotsman has a week-long focus on Scotland's justice system

Exclusive Justice Denied: Crown Office faces 'biggest challenge' in years

Emma Caldwell was 27 years old when she was murdered in 2005 by serial rapist Iain Packer

Caldwell family to meet Swinney amid concerns over inquiry

Officers outside the home of Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell in April, 2023

Public 'scratching heads in disbelief at length of SNP police probe'

A CCTV still shows the roofer who was thrown from a cherry picker in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow in February 2022. Picture: Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service/PA Wire

Massive £215k fine after worker thrown from cherry picker hit by bus

Isla Bryson, formerly known as Adam Graham, was found guilty of raping two women. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA

Police criticised for allowing rapists to self-declare gender identity

First Minister John Swinney hosts leaders of all political parties at Bute House. Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images

Swinney: Social media giants not tackling 'dangerous misinformation'

Officers outside the home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell in 2023 as part of Operation Branchform. Picture: Andrew Milligan/Press Association

Police chief constable says SNP finance probe findings 'in matter of weeks'

Analysis John Swinney manages to unite Holyrood - in laughter

It's almost a year since police erected a blue forensics-style tent in front of the home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell. Picture: Andrew Milligan / PA.

Former chief constable defends police investigation into SNP finances

Part of the Peebles Hoard, a late Bronze Age hoard found near Peebles in June 2020 by a metal detectorist, who recovered about 21 copper-alloy artefacts before realising that there was still more in the ground. Photo: Crown Office/PA Wire

Review into processing of archaeological discoveries

Tough sentences required for those responsible for Post Office scandal
Lord Advocate is wrong to oppose a blanket exoneration for sub-postmasters. If a few guilty go free, that’s a price worth paying to secure justice for the innoc...
Kenny MacAskill

Scotland must not be slow to clear Post Office scandal’s victims Scotsman comment

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC apologised to victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal during a statement to parliament. Image: Jane Barlow/Press Association.

Top prosecutor apologises to Scots wrongly convicted in Post Office scandal

Stephen Flynn

Flynn: ‘Incumbent’ on Lord Advocate to answer questions on Post Office scandal

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain is facing calls to face MSPs

Crown Office faces questions over Horizon Post Office scandal

Toby Jones and co-stars in Mr Bates vs the Post Office. Picture: ITV

Crown Office said prosecutors told faulty Horizon system would not impact cases

Pictured: John Hollingworth as James Hartley and Toby Jones as Alan Bates.

UK Government considering a review of Post Office convictions

Milly Main from Lanark, pictured here with her mum Kimberly Darroch, died at the age of 10 in 2017 after contracting an infection at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow

Mum of Milly Main tells of 'wave of emotions' after NHS board named as suspect

Protesters outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh are asking for a public inquiry into the care given to patients by "disgraced surgeon" Professor Sam Eljamel. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Rogue surgeon Eljamel could be extradited from Libya to face action

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC. Picture: Getty Images.

SNP accused of betraying rape survivors

There is no data on the number of officers who take their own lives

Suicides among police officers should be recorded amid concerns of 'hidden toll'

Lady Lorna Drummond

Beware this odd ruling of the Scottish courts and the floodgates it could open

Nicola Sturgeon with Alex Salmond whilst on the General Election campaign trail in Inverurie in the Gordon constituency in 2015.

Crown Office still investigating Alex Salmond claims of perjury a year on

Recovering addict Peter Krykant famously operated an unofficial mobile safe consumption room in Glasgow, saving several lives. Campaigners now want official sites to be authorised in the city.

Evidence for safe drug consumption rooms is 'irrefutable', says minister

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser

Only 15 per cent of reported fly-tipping cases result in prosecution

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries