BBCNEWS BBC News at Six June 4, 2024 17:13:00
Because things need to change. one of the aims of these proposed changes is to increase scotland's low conviction rate for serious sexual offences. the overall conviction rate in scottish trials is about 90%. it is far lower in rape and attempted rape trials, where only about half result in conviction. as well as piloting judge—only trials for those charged with rape, the proposed legislation will grant automatic lifelong anonymity for victims of sexual offences, reduce the numbers ofjurors in scottish criminal trials from 15 to 12, and abolish the not proven verdict, which is unique to scot...