Glasgow Solicitors Blog from The GLP

A national problem profile published by the Association of Chief Police Officers shows the commercial cultivation of cannabis continues to pose a significant risk to the UK with increasing numbers of farms being detected by police.

The problem profile, which is the third to be published since 2008, shows an increasing number of farms being detected; 7,865 projected for 2011/12 compared with 6,866 in 2009/10 when the last problem profile was published.

Key findings from the report include:

- Over 1.1 million plants with an estimated street value of £207 million were recovered during the two-year survey period.
- The number of cannabis production offences continues to rise with 16,464 offences projected for 2011/12 up from 14,982 offences recorded in 2010/11.
- There is a shift back to smaller residential or domestic premises as opposed to large-scale commercial and industrial property.
- There is an emergence of the “multiple site” model whereby a large number of people are employed to manage small scale factories across multiple residential areas.
- Cannabis remains the most commonly used illegal drug in the UK and is the most prevalent drug seized by law enforcement agencies.
- Intelligence suggests the purchase of seeds and equipment from local hydroponics and head shops is on the increase. This may result in an increase in small-scale cultivations feeding social supply.

Plans to make criminals who assault police officers in the line of duty pay for their crimes have been unveiled by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Anyone arrested with a knife in Scotland’s town and city centres will now be prosecuted before a Sheriff and jury, resulting in a potential increase of a maximum prison term from one year to four years.

Cyber attacks on IT systems would become a criminal offence punishable by at least two years in prison throughout the EU under a draft law backed by the European Civil Liberties Committee. Possessing or distributing hacking software and tools would also be an offence, and companies would be liable for cyber attacks committed for their benefit.

Scotland is getting even tougher on those who commit corrosive “hate crimes” based on prejudice, the Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC, has said.

The 'World's End' murders of Helen Scott and Christine Eadie are being investigated by Lothian and Borders Police following a review by prosecutors, the Crown Office has confirmed.

New EU legislation adopted by the European Council has given Europe stronger regulations to effectively fight illegal arms trafficking. The legislation establishes requirements for exports, imports and transit licensing, and makes it easier to track weapons.

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 has come into force to stamp out offensive and religious hatred at football.

If you have been charged with a drink driving offence then it is likely that you will have been released from police custody on the bail undertaking procedure. A court date will be specified on the form and the hearing usually takes place within two to three weeks of the alleged offence. Our drink driving defence solicitors at The Glasgow Law Practice can assist.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has announced that Strathclyde Police are to carry out a further investigation into the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar, who was killed in 1998. The investigation is to be carried out under Double Jeopardy legislation introduced in November last year.

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act has received Royal Assent, the Minister for Community Safety has announced.

The Parole Board for Scotland has published its Annual Report 2010-11.The report shows, among other things, that out of 606 determinate sentence prisoners whose cases were referred to the Board, 170 (or 28%) were recommended for release on parole.