Four men have been convicted in a £6m corruption and bribery investigation involving health boards across Scotland. The case centred on contracts awarded to Oricom Ltd, founded by Adam Sharoudi and Gavin Brown, for telecoms and video conferencing equipment from 2010 to 2017. The investigation revealed that former NHS employees Alan Hush and Gavin Cox…

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is facing significant criticism for its interim guidance on single-sex spaces, which campaigners argue risks outing trans individuals and violating their rights. Following a Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally recognised as women under the Equalities Act, the guidance states that trans women should not…

Scotland’s top prosecutor, Dorothy Bain KC, has implemented new safeguards regarding prosecution decisions for children accused of serious crimes, including rape. This follows concerns about the practice of “diversion from prosecution,” which allows cases to be referred to social services instead of going to trial. Bain announced a review in July 2023, acknowledging the “trauma…

Ofcom has released its final version of the Children’s Codes of Practice, which firms must comply with by July. The codes, established under the Online Safety Act, mandate that social media and internet platforms block children’s access to harmful content or face significant penalties. The codes require robust age verification for sites hosting adult content…

Judges in England and Wales can now utilise artificial intelligence (AI) tools, specifically Microsoft’s Copilot Chat, to assist in preparing judgments. The guidance issued to judges outlines potential risks, including bias and misinformation, advising them to “ensure you have a basic understanding of their capabilities and potential limitations.” Additionally, a survey by Thomson Reuters revealed…

The introduction of a laser detection system, known as the D-TECT Laser, aims to prevent contraband smuggling into British prisons via drones. Installed at a secure mental health facility in North Yorkshire, this technology creates a virtual curtain of up to 25 metres, effectively detecting individuals attempting to scale walls or drones delivering contraband. The…