Scottish parliament scraps legal verdict of ‘not proven’

<p>Third option for juries thought to be key factor in country’s lower conviction rates for rape and sexual assault abolished</p><p>The Scottish verdict of “not proven” – a global legal anomaly thought to be a key factor in the country’s significantly lower convictions rate for rape and sexual assault – has been abolished.</p><p>MSPs agreed to scrap the unique Scottish verdict as they voted through a series of major reforms that Angela Constance, the justice secretary, said “put victims and witnesses at the heart of a modern and fair justice system”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/17/scottish-parliament-scrap-legal-verdict-of-not-proven">Continue reading...</a>