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High Court backlog likely to be result of 300% increase in English County Lines activity in Scotland

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From BBC Scotland today, the above, and: The backlog of trials in Scotland’s highest criminal courts has nearly tripled, due in part to an increase in complex cases involving serious organised crime and historic sex abuse. At the end of March about 1,000 trials were waiting to go ahead in the high court, almost three times the number before the Covid-19 pandemic. Where would that increase in serious organised crime come from? There’s absolutely no evidence that it originates anywhere in Scotland. To what extent based on Police Scotland and other reliable sources has County Lines drug gang activity increased … Continue reading High Court backlog likely to be result of 300% increase in English County Lines activity in Scotland

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‘The Trump administration’s reckless attack on radiation protection will have long-term consequences for public safety’ – Starmer and Sarwar plan to stupidly follow him

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From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist, yesterday: Worldwide, regulations limiting doses from the radiation emitted by nuclear fissions and decays are based on the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model. This hypothesis posits that, irrespective of whether ionizing radiation comes in a pulse or over years, the additional risk of developing cancer as a result is proportional to the cumulative amount of energy deposited per gram of tissue, with weighting risk factors for radiation type, sex, age, and specific organs. Since 1975, the US nuclear industry has been required to limit exposures to workers and the public to “as low as reasonably achievable” … Continue reading ‘The Trump administration’s reckless attack on radiation protection will have long-term consequences for public safety’ – Starmer and Sarwar plan to stupidly follow him

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Trial backlog plummets to only a third but complex English County Lines drug gang cases increases those in highest courts

johnrobertson834

Why is Scotland’s Auditor General telling us good news about trial backlogs falling? It’s not like him or is it? Is it BBC Scotland re-ordering his stuff? The backlog of trials in Scotland’s highest criminal courts has nearly tripled, due in part to an increase in complex cases involving serious organised crime and historic sex abuse. At the end of March about 1,000 trials were waiting to go ahead in the high court, almost three times the number before the Covid-19 pandemic. In contrast, across the whole system, the number of outstanding scheduled trials has fallen to 13,268 – around … Continue reading Trial backlog plummets to only a third but complex English County Lines drug gang cases increases those in highest courts

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Youth unemployment in Scotland at 10.2% far lower than UK average of 16.2% due to SNP policy focus on youth employment and efforts to align education with employer needs

johnrobertson834

BBC Breakfast this morning, in an extended piece on the number not in work or in education – NEETS – seems to have confused that group – all 16-24 year-olds including economically inactive (not looking, e.g. due to illness, caring, discouraged) – with the unemployed, looking for work and available to start. The figure should be 16.2% in the UK1, 16.3% in Wales2 and only 10.2% in Scotland.3 England drives most of the UK figure; regional highs in London (24.9%), Yorkshire & Humber (17.6%), North East (17.2%). England overall is slightly above the UK average.4 So, youth unemployment in the … Continue reading Youth unemployment in Scotland at 10.2% far lower than UK average of 16.2% due to SNP policy focus on youth employment and efforts to align education with employer needs

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Every colony which left the English Empire was told they were “not ready,” “not viable,” or would become unstable after independence, except Scotland where no reason can be offered

johnrobertson834

From STV today: John Swinney is to press the Prime Minister for a second independence referendum after MSPs backed his call for Westminster to grant Holyrood the powers for such a vote to take place. The Scottish First Minister, who is due to meet Sir Keir Starmer for talks in June, said those talks would be “an opportunity for me to progress the will of Parliament”. He spoke out after MSPs backed, by 72 votes to 55, a motion demanding Westminster deliver a Section 30 order to transfer powers to Scotland that would allow a second referendum. However, Downing Street … Continue reading Every colony which left the English Empire was told they were “not ready,” “not viable,” or would become unstable after independence, except Scotland where no reason can be offered

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Highest level of common mussel production ever recorded in Scotland after years of Scottish Government support

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From Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025 published today: The Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025 was published today. This Official Statistics publication details statistics on the employment, production and value of shellfish from Scottish Shellfish Farms. It is structured to follow trends within the common mussel, Pacific oyster, native oyster and king scallop species sectors. Some statistics are given for the 10-year period 2016-2025.  Some key figures from this publication are: Source: https://www.gov.scot/news/scottish-shellfish-farm-production-survey-2025/ This achievement was mainly driven by Scotland’s shellfish farming industry, but the Scottish Government has played a major supporting roles because aquaculture and fisheries management are … Continue reading Highest level of common mussel production ever recorded in Scotland after years of Scottish Government support

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Long after Murrell was charged, trust in the SNP was way ahead and after this smelly media feeding frenzy has passed, it will be the same

johnrobertson834

Only two months ago and at the end of a bloody, dirty, campaign by the other parties, the SNP remained miles ahead in terms of trust. From Ipsos, the Paris-based, no-horse-in-the-race trusted pollster, these are big leads and utterly remarkable for a party in power for near two decades. Take out the undecided/none of these and the SNP figure will be even higher. Yes, I see Reform UK on immigration – one-trick pony. Finally, the leaders: Look at the Satisfied figure – 40% for Swinney! As for UK leaders: Swinney is even further ahead. Source: https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/snp-extend-their-lead-while-scottish-labour-support-slumps Continue reading Long after Murrell was charged, trust in the SNP was way ahead and after this smelly media feeding frenzy has passed, it will be the same

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434 ‘UK’ nurses and midwives who should have been banned and have worked for last 12 years are almost certainly not in Scotland – here’s how I know

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In the Guardian today: Nurses and midwives who should have been banned from treating patients have practised over the last 12 years because of “potentially dangerous” failings by a medical regulator. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has admitted that its “completely and utterly unacceptable” mistakes meant it failed to protect the public from about 15 professionals whom it should have banned from ever working in healthcare in the UK because they had broken the law. The nurses and midwives told the NMC about their criminal convictions when they applied to join or stay on the regulator’s register, which they need to … Continue reading 434 ‘UK’ nurses and midwives who should have been banned and have worked for last 12 years are almost certainly not in Scotland – here’s how I know

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Four years after SNP bill in Scotland, only children in England and Wales still seeing extreme violence while held needlessly in jail

johnrobertson834

In the Guardian today: Children seeing extreme violence while held needlessly in jail, says England and Wales watchdog Prisons inspectorate finds almost 100 children each year are remanded to custody only to be bailed or moved. One child told inspectors he had watched through his window as another child was stabbed and had “found that scary”. Most were in custody for the first time, few were given clear information about why they were being held, and some said they were confused and frightened. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/27/children-violence-remand-jail-england-wales-watchdog Can this happen in Scotland? The media operating in Scotland will be busy bottom-feeding for examples … Continue reading Four years after SNP bill in Scotland, only children in England and Wales still seeing extreme violence while held needlessly in jail