Abolishing ‘not proven’ is dangerous, solicitors warn | Scotland

Lawyers have warned that removing the controversial “not proven” verdict in Scotland’s court system would be “dangerous” and “undoubtedly” result in miscarriages of justice.

The Law Society of Scotland, the professional body for more than 12,000 solicitors, has told ministers it is “irresponsible” to implement any changes at a time when the criminal justice system and the profession are in “disarray” due to extensive backlogs in the court system, the “chronic underfunding” of legal aid and growing problems recruiting defence lawyers.

The society’s concerns, which are echoed by other legal groups such as the Faculty of Advocates, emerged as a Scottish government consultation revealed strong support for the abolition of the three-verdict system. Unlike most legal systems, Scotland has three possible verdicts in criminal cases