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 9 November 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, sections 65 and 147 (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)
- Revised Code of Practice on stop and search: consultation (closed 5 May 2026; analysis of responses published 26 August 2026), Scottish Government
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