As an amendment to motion S6M-02553 in the name of Jamie Greene (Ending the Not Proven Verdict), leave out from “believes” to end and insert “recognises concerns held by many about the current three verdict system, including issues raised in independent jury research that suggest jurors may have inconsistent views on the meaning and effect of the not proven verdict; further recognises the concerns raised by the complainers of particularly heinous crimes, including gender-based violence, rape and domestic abuse, that the not proven verdict is more often applied in crimes of rape and attempted rape compared to other crimes; notes the strong case that can be made for the abolition of the not proven verdict; further notes that the Scottish jury system is a complex, inter-related system and that verdicts must be considered alongside other key aspects of jury size, majority and corroboration, and against the background of wider, related work, including the recommendations of the Lord Justice Clerk’s review on the management of sexual offence cases, and encourages all those with an interest to consider and respond to the current Scottish Government consultation on the not proven verdict and related reforms.”
Result 91 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote Vote Passed
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
No Party Affiliation
Submitted by: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date lodged: Monday, December 13, 2021
Supported by: Sharon Dowey
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Thursday, December 16, 2021
Result 92 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote Vote Passed
Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Supported by: Katy Clark, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Thursday, December 16, 2021
Submitted by: Maggie Chapman, North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, December 15, 2021