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Lawyers are warning the threshold for securing a conviction will be “significantly less” than it is south of the border when “one of the most significant shifts to Scotland’s criminal justice system in living memory” comes into force in less than three weeks’ time. ‌

The Law Society of Scotland commented ahead of the abolition of the not proven verdict , which has been a feature of Scotland’s justice system for centuries, on January 1 2026. Scrapping the controversial verdict was one of the key reforms included in the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act which was passed by Holyrood earlier this year. ‌

Amid concerns about the impact the move could have on the legal system , the Scottish Government also included changes to the jury system i

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