Where our information comes from
Every guide and offence page on Be Crime Wise (Scotland) is written from official sources: legislation as published on legislation.gov.uk, and guidance from government, the courts, prosecutors, police bodies and sentencing bodies. This page lists all 206 sources we cite, grouped by website.
Last checked 25 September 2026. See how we check.
legislation.gov.uk
- Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016, section 1
- Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016, section 2
- Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016, section 3 (interpretation)
- Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025
- Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024
- Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2025
- Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, section 199 (meaning of child)
- Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, section 52
- Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, section 57
- Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, section 58
- Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, section 60
- Code of Practice on the exercise by constables of powers of stop and search of the person in Scotland (2017)
- Communications Act 2003, section 127
- Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 29 (prospective)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, Part 1 Chapter 2 (custody of person not officially accused)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, Part 1 Chapter 3 (police liberation and undertakings)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, Part 1 Chapter 4 (police interview)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, Part 1 Chapter 5 (rights of suspects)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, Part 2 (search by police)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, contents
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 16 (release on conditions)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 21 (person to be brought before court)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 26 (release on undertaking)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 33 (consent to interview without solicitor)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 38 (right to have intimation sent to other person)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 40 (right of under 18s to have access to other person)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 44 (right to consult a solicitor)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 63 (meaning of officially accused)
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 65
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016, section 67
- Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 141
- Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Act 2025, section 8 (increase of fixed penalty limit)
- Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, section 38
- Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, section 39
- Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 172 (extent)
- Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 60
- Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 47
- Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 48 (search for offensive weapons)
- Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 49
- Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 50
- Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 50A (repealed)
- Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 51
- Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 52
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Part I (courts and sentencing powers)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Part IX (summary proceedings, including section 136 time limit)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Part XI (sentencing, including section 234A non-harassment orders)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Schedule 3 (alternative verdicts)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 110 (note of appeal)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 13
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 136 (time limit for certain offences)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 144 (procedure at first diet)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 150 (failure of accused to appear)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 18
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 196 (sentence following guilty plea)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 202 (deferred sentence)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 204 (restrictions on imprisonment)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 205B
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 210ZA (time spent on electronically monitored bail)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 227A (community payback orders)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 234AZA (non-harassment orders: consideration by court in certain cases)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 23B (entitlement to bail)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 24 (bail and bail conditions)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 246 (admonition and absolute discharge)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 27 (breach of bail conditions)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 271 (vulnerable witnesses)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 288C
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 302 (fiscal fixed penalty)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 303ZA (work orders)
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, section 65 (prevention of delay in trials)
- Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020, schedule 5 (childhood convictions spent immediately)
- Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018
- Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, section 1
- Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (Scotland) Regulations 2019
- Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005
- Firearms Act 1968, section 51A
- Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021
- Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 (Characteristic of Sex) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/150)
- Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, section 1
- Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, section 4
- Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 4 (penalties)
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, section 4
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, section 5
- Online Safety Act 2023, section 184
- Online Safety Act 2023, section 239 (extent)
- Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, section 90
- Prisoners (Early Release) (Miscellaneous Amendment and Transitional Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2026
- Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993, section 1 (release)
- Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993, section 2
- Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Part 3 (confiscation: Scotland)
- Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021, section 1
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, schedule 3 (spent alternatives to prosecution: Scotland)
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, section 5A (disclosure periods, Scotland)
- Right to Interpretation and Translation in Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Regulations 2014
- Road Traffic Act 1988 (Prescribed Limit) (Scotland) Regulations 2014
- Road Traffic Act 1988 (Prescribed Limit) (Scotland) Regulations 2014
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 143
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 144A (keeping an uninsured vehicle)
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 165A (seizure of vehicles)
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 172 (duty to give information as to identity of driver)
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 2
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 2A (meaning of dangerous driving)
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 3
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 3ZA (meaning of careless or inconsiderate driving)
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 4
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 41D
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 5
- Road Traffic Act 1988, section 5A
- Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Schedule 2 (penalties)
- Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, section 33A (forfeiture of vehicles: Scotland)
- Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, section 89
- Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, regulation 110
- Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, section 6
- Terrorism Act 2000, section 47A
- Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025
- Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025
- Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026
- Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, section 65 (majority required for guilty verdict)
- Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, section 66 (verdict of guilty or not guilty)
scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk
- Gemmell v HM Advocate, opinion of the court (PDF)
- Scottish Sentencing Council, Gemmell v HM Advocate (2011)
- Scottish Sentencing Council, HM Advocate v Graham
- Scottish Sentencing Council, Spence v HM Advocate (2007)
- Scottish Sentencing Council, The sentencing process guideline (step 5: take into account a plea of guilty)
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Domestic abuse guideline (in development)
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Aggravation
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Complainer
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Complaint
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, High Court of Justiciary
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Indictment
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Intermediate diet
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Justice of the Peace court
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Petition hearing
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Pleading diet
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Pre-sentence report
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Procurator fiscal
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Sheriff Appeal Court
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Sheriff court
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Solemn proceedings
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Summary proceedings
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Jargon buster, Trial
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Maximum and minimum sentences
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Statutory offences of causing death by driving
- Scottish Sentencing Council: Statutory offences of causing death by driving guideline
- Scottish Sentencing Council: approved guidelines
copfs.gov.uk
- COPFS, Attending court: information for accused
- COPFS: Diversion from prosecution
- COPFS: Lord Advocate statement on diversion from prosecution (September 2021)
- COPFS: Lord Advocate's guidelines on the use of police direct measures for adult offenders
- COPFS: Lord Advocate's guidelines on the use of police direct measures for adult offenders
- COPFS: Making a Victim (Impact) Statement
- COPFS: Referral to the Children's Reporter
- COPFS: Victim Information and Advice (VIA) service
- COPFS: Victim Notification Scheme
- COPFS: Victims' Right to Review
- COPFS: Words and meanings
- Lord Advocate's guidelines on the use of police direct measures for adult offenders (COPFS)
- Victims' Code for Scotland (COPFS)
- Victims' Right to Review (COPFS)
gov.scot
- Letter of rights: answering questions from the police (Scottish Government)
- Letter of rights: your rights when you are in a police station, easy read (Scottish Government)
- Scottish Government: Abolition of not proven verdict
- Scottish Government: Scottish Crime Recording Standard, Group 1 (non-sexual crimes of violence)
- Scottish Government: Scottish Crime Recording Standard, Group 3 (crimes of dishonesty)
- Scottish Government: Scottish Crime Recording Standard, Group 4 (damage and reckless behaviour)
- Scottish Government: Scottish Crime Recording Standard, Group 6 (anti-social offences)
- Scottish Government: Self-disclosure guidance, non-custodial sentences and alternatives to prosecution
- Scottish Government: Short-term prisoner release, what the changes mean
- Stop and search: guidance (Scottish Government)
- Use of stop and search: revised Code of Practice consultation (Scottish Government, 2026)
slab.org.uk
- Availability of legal aid in solemn criminal proceedings (SLAB)
- Find a solicitor (Scottish Legal Aid Board)
- Scottish Legal Aid Board, Automatic legal aid for summary proceedings, duty solicitors and appointed solicitors
- Scottish Legal Aid Board, Availability of criminal legal aid in summary proceedings
- Solicitor Contact Line (Scottish Legal Aid Board)
- Statutory criteria for a grant of criminal legal aid in summary proceedings (SLAB)
mygov.scot
- Being arrested: your rights (mygov.scot)
- Legal advice at a police station (mygov.scot)
- mygov.scot: Applying for a review of convictions on your disclosure
- mygov.scot: Drink-drive limit in Scotland
- mygov.scot: Spent and unspent convictions
gov.uk
- Criminal injuries compensation: a guide (GOV.UK)
- GOV.UK: Criminal injuries compensation, a guide
- GOV.UK: Using mobile phones when driving: the law
scotland.police.uk
- Police Scotland FOI 26-0265: Speed awareness course as alternative to FPN
- Police Scotland: Make a complaint
- Police Scotland: Stop and Search
disclosure.gov.scot
- Disclosure Scotland: Five-year PVG scheme membership now in place
- Disclosure Scotland: How disclosure levels changed
judiciary.scot
- Judicial Office for Scotland: The Judiciary in Scotland (criminal courts information sheet)
- Judiciary of Scotland: Summary case management extended to shoplifting cases (December 2025)
scotcourts.gov.uk
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Criminal court procedures
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Guidance on coming to court