Overview
- The Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill passed 71–46 with one abstention, removing the centuries-old third verdict from Scottish juries.
- Convictions will now require a two-thirds jury majority, replacing the current simple majority rule.
- A specialist sexual offences court will be created alongside an independent Victims and Witnesses Commissioner and lifelong anonymity for rape complainers.
- Suzanne’s Law compels parole boards to weigh a killer’s refusal to reveal victims’ remains when considering release.
- Implementation will follow Royal Assent in phases, with Conservatives and Labour voting against the bill and legal bodies warning of unintended effects on conviction outcomes.