Latest news with #CriminalJusticeCommittee
STV News
21-05-2025
- STV News
'Non-fatal strangulation offence will give survivors justice they deserve'
The mother of a student who took her life after being subject to abuse, including non-fatal strangulation, is urging MSPs to make it a new, stand-alone offence. Fiona Drouet is campaigning to change the law following the death of her daughter Emily in 2016. The 18-year-old law student was subjected to abuse and violence by her boyfriend before being found dead in her halls of residence in 2016. Emily's former boyfriend Angus Milligan was later convicted of physically and verbally abusing the teenager and was subsequently expelled from the university. He admitted to choking and slapping Emily as well as assaulting and threatening her during a campaign of abuse. Fiona Drouet is now urging ministers to make non-fatal strangulation a stand-alone offence to help deter offenders in the future. 'We are looking at an exceptionally serious crime that merits a law in itself, to be recognised as exceptionally high risk,' she told MSPs on Wednesday. 'It is very different to other forms of abuse.' Non-fatal strangulation is currently dealt with under the common law of assault in Scotland or under the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act. Ms Drouet said creating a new offence could help educate people about the crime and also deter offenders. She told MSPs that when a person has the oxygen supply to their brain restricted, 'they are going to have an automatic response of fighting, literally fighting for their life, something that is hugely traumatic'. She described it as being 'like a near-death experience'. The mum stood in front of Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee and read text messages her daughter had sent to friends before her death. In the messages, Emily said about her abuse: 'I was so scared, I thought I was going to die'. In another message, she said: 'I am so scared that I think I want to die.' 'If we have a stand-alone crime saying that was non-fatal strangulation, I think potentially it acts as a strong deterrent, a stronger message,' Fiona said. 'I'm worried any other approach minimises the severity and risk of the crime and doesn't give victims, survivors the justice that they absolutely deserve.' Non-fatal strangulation has already been made a stand-alone offence in the other nations of the UK, with detective superintendent Lindsay Fisher of the Police Service of Northern Ireland telling the committee about the impact there when new laws came in in June 2023. 'The improvements that having a stand-alone offence have been immense,' she told MSPs 'Within three days of the legislation going live, we had not only used the new stand-alone offence, but we had somebody appearing in court having been charged for it.' Dr Emma Forbes, national lead for domestic abuse in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said they are 'worried' by anecdotal evidence about the 'increased prevalence' of non-fatal strangulation particularly amongst young people. She told the committee that almost two-fifths of the 136 cases COPFS received from Police Scotland in March, which are being prosecuted under the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act, involved non-fatal strangulation. However, Dr Forbes insisted Scotland has 'effective legislation at the moment'. She accepted there are compelling reasons to create a specific offence of non-fatal strangulation saying that this would raise public awareness, which urgently needs to be done, and would also provide improved data on the number of such crimes. But she added: 'We have a very strong foundation in our law in Scotland and I would worry about the unintended consequences of a specific offence, not least because it would be more difficult evidentially to prove.' At the moment, Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee is considering a petition from Ms Drouet to make non-fatal strangulation a standalone criminal offence in Scotland. MSPs on the committee will listen to evidence from a variety of sources. If they decide that it should be a stand-alone offence, they can invite the Scottish Government to reflect on the evidence and ask if they have any plans to make non-fatal strangulation a standalone offence in Scotland. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AG Kaul visits Eau Claire, discusses funding for victim programs
EAU CLAIRE — Cuts to victim services programs across the state are starting to become apparent, says Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. 'We're in the first year of reductions, and we're already seeing staffing cuts,' Kaul said during a stop in Eau Claire on Monday. 'The programs in place are sort of being held together with duct tape. It can be held together in the short term, but it's not sustainable.' Kaul said he is seeking $68 million in state revenue this biennium to support victim services programs across the state. He noted that federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) aid is dropping. He said the state has made 'real progress' in victim services programs and he said they need to continue. The vast majority of the money would go to non-profit organizations. 'These services can help empower victims,' he said. 'It's at risk because of a funding crisis.' Kaul had a roundtable discussion at the Eau Claire County Courthouse and was joined by Republicans and Democrats alike, as Rep. Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire), Rep. Jeff Smith (D-Town of Brunswick), Rep. Karen Hurd (R-Withee) and Sen. Jesse James (R-Thorp) all attended the session. Hurd agreed the programs are needed, saying 'It helps us hold those accountable who are committing these crimes.' Emerson is the ranking Democrat on the Criminal Justice Committee, and she discussed how money paid in fines help fund these programs. 'We need to be building up our communities that help prevent these crimes from happening,' she said. 'We are losing staff; we are losing programs around the state.' Emerson said she is concerned about if dollars will run out for those programs if the state doesn't complete its budget until later this year, and how those programs will continue without aid. Eric Huse, Eau Claire County legal services director, noted that state victim rights are enshrined in the state Constitution. But without the added dollars, 'it will ultimately result in significantly reduced services.' Kaul was pleased to meet with members of both parties. 'We're committed to working to make our communities safer,' Kaul said. 'This really isn't a partisan issue.' The Department of Justice presently has 17 victim services positions, and Kaul said 14 are paid for by federal dollars. The $68 million request includes money to maintain all of those 17 positions. Joining federal lawsuits Kaul said Wisconsin has now joined in 18 multi-state lawsuits to fight actions taken by President Donald Trump and his administration. Kaul said his office is helping to create and shape arguments, but also writing declarations of how these federal actions would impact Wisconsin residents. He said it is important for Wisconsin's voice to be heard in these lawsuits.
STV News
16-05-2025
- STV News
Inquiry into drug abuse in Scotland's prisons launched
An inquiry has been launched into drug abuse in Scotland's prisons. Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee announced the probe after a parliamentary people's panel raised concerns over the rise and strength of synthetic drugs taken by inmates. The inquiry will be split into three parts, with the first investigating how drugs enter prisons, what detection and prevention measures are in place and the role of organised crime. The second leg will consider the impact drug misuse has on prisons, and how it impacts inmates, their families and prison staff. The third part of the inquiry will focus on what rehabilitation and support are available for prisoners. It will also look at why prisoners turn to drugs and other substances while incarcerated. A people's panel previously warned about the impact of drugs and alcohol on prisoners and the urgent need for better rehabilitation and support. As the call for views launched, Criminal Justice Committee convener Audrey Nicoll MSP said: 'We listened intently to the concerns raised by the people's panel and our committee was keen to take action to look into this serious issue. 'As one of the Scottish Parliament committees which considers issues related to drug harms and drug deaths in Scotland, we are acutely aware of the suffering caused by substance misuse and the sensitivities around these issues. 'There is no doubt this is a multifaceted issue, and our inquiry will look into the supply of illegal substances, the impact of illegal substances, and the support and rehabilitation services available for those struggling with the effects of usage. 'We are keen to better understand these issues and to evaluate how the Scottish Prison Service and other authorities are dealing with this challenge, and to identify any potential solutions.' She added: 'We want to hear from people with lived experience of these issues, including individuals, families and from those who work in these settings, to help us understand how things are working in practice and what changes are needed.' The committee said it wants to hear from those impacted by drug abuse in prisons. People can submit their views from now up to August 22 here. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
South Wales Guardian
14-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
NatWest faces 100 million cyber attacks every month, MSPs told
The bank also blocks around a third of emails coming into its system, Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee heard. Police and cyber crime agencies are increasingly dealing with fraudsters operating online, with gold scams and romance fraud becoming particularly prominent. The trend increased sharply during the pandemic – in 2020 Police Scotland recorded 7,710 cyber crimes, but in 2024 that increased to 18,280. Chris Ulliott, head of cybersecurity at NatWest, told the committee on Wednesday: 'We analyse every single email coming into our estate, looking for malicious content. 'About a third of the emails, millions a month, we actually block because they are believed to be the start of an attack against our staff. 'If I look outside our network at the attacks that are probing our estate, we're averaging about 100 million attacks per month just trying to break past the defences we have in the organisation'. He said this has led to a cybersecurity team with hundreds of staff and a budget of millions. Mr Ulliott said there is growing concern about fraudsters using artificial intelligence (AI) to make their approaches to people seem more credible. Watch from 10 am on #SPTV as @agescotland @ArnoldClark @cyberfraudcen @CyberResScot @NCA_UK @NatWestGroup @PoliceScotland will give evidence on the impact of #cybercrime on business and vulnerable individuals in Scotland: — Criminal Justice Committee (@SP_Justice) May 14, 2025 The technology could even be used to alter a fraudster's appearance in a real-time online call to look like an 'elderly British gent' to gain trust with a victim. Mr Ulliott said Scattered Spider, the group which may have been behind the recent attack on Marks & Spencer, is likely a loose international group in their teens and 20s who are sharing ideas on online forums. SNP MSP Rona Mackay said the numbers revealed by the NatWest official were 'absolutely staggering'. Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said law enforcement agencies around the world are collaborating to try and catch cyber criminals, with the FBI sharing intelligence on fraud and ransomware groups. Adam Stachura from the charity Age Scotland said many elderly people are not confident users of online technology. He said the impact of cyber crime can be devastating for the elderly, saying: 'It can create financial destitution – that hit to confidence and self-worth.' David Keenan, chief information officer at Arnold Clark, discussed the serious cyber attack which crippled the car company's network at the end of 2022. He said recovery was a months-long effort and the attack came despite the company having 12 staff dedicated to cybersecurity. The SNP's Ben Macpherson said cyber crime is 'the criminal justice issue of our time'. He said cyber criminals had even impersonated himself in order to contact constituents in Edinburgh Northern and Leith.
Leader Live
14-05-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
NatWest faces 100 million cyber attacks every month, MSPs told
The bank also blocks around a third of emails coming into its system, Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee heard. Police and cyber crime agencies are increasingly dealing with fraudsters operating online, with gold scams and romance fraud becoming particularly prominent. The trend increased sharply during the pandemic – in 2020 Police Scotland recorded 7,710 cyber crimes, but in 2024 that increased to 18,280. Chris Ulliott, head of cybersecurity at NatWest, told the committee on Wednesday: 'We analyse every single email coming into our estate, looking for malicious content. 'About a third of the emails, millions a month, we actually block because they are believed to be the start of an attack against our staff. 'If I look outside our network at the attacks that are probing our estate, we're averaging about 100 million attacks per month just trying to break past the defences we have in the organisation'. He said this has led to a cybersecurity team with hundreds of staff and a budget of millions. Mr Ulliott said there is growing concern about fraudsters using artificial intelligence (AI) to make their approaches to people seem more credible. Watch from 10 am on #SPTV as @agescotland @ArnoldClark @cyberfraudcen @CyberResScot @NCA_UK @NatWestGroup @PoliceScotland will give evidence on the impact of #cybercrime on business and vulnerable individuals in Scotland: — Criminal Justice Committee (@SP_Justice) May 14, 2025 The technology could even be used to alter a fraudster's appearance in a real-time online call to look like an 'elderly British gent' to gain trust with a victim. Mr Ulliott said Scattered Spider, the group which may have been behind the recent attack on Marks & Spencer, is likely a loose international group in their teens and 20s who are sharing ideas on online forums. SNP MSP Rona Mackay said the numbers revealed by the NatWest official were 'absolutely staggering'. Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said law enforcement agencies around the world are collaborating to try and catch cyber criminals, with the FBI sharing intelligence on fraud and ransomware groups. Adam Stachura from the charity Age Scotland said many elderly people are not confident users of online technology. He said the impact of cyber crime can be devastating for the elderly, saying: 'It can create financial destitution – that hit to confidence and self-worth.' David Keenan, chief information officer at Arnold Clark, discussed the serious cyber attack which crippled the car company's network at the end of 2022. He said recovery was a months-long effort and the attack came despite the company having 12 staff dedicated to cybersecurity. The SNP's Ben Macpherson said cyber crime is 'the criminal justice issue of our time'. He said cyber criminals had even impersonated himself in order to contact constituents in Edinburgh Northern and Leith.
