SCOTTISH CRIMINAL CASES REVIEW COMMISSION

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD ON FRIDAY 27 MARCH 2026

10:00 AM, HYBRID MEETING (OFFICE & VIDEO CONFERENCE)

FOR DISCLOSURE VIA THE PUBLICATION SCHEME

In line with the Commission’s Disclosure policy, various paragraphs may have been edited or deleted from these minutes as the information contained therein relates to specific case information and/or personnel-related matters. Where the summary of discussion has been edited or the names have been deleted, this is indicated at the start of the relevant paragraph or section.

Present:

  • Dr Vanessa Davies (Chair) – office
  • Ms Laura Reilly – office
  • Mr Finlay Young – office
  • Miss Alyson Forbes – office
  • Ms Jacqueline Fordyce – office
  • Mrs Gillian Mawdsley – office
  • Mrs Suzie Mertes – office

Also Present:

  • Miss Frances McMenamin KC – office
  • Mr Michael Walker, Chief Executive – office
  • Ms Melissa McAlinden, Senior Administration Officer (minutes) – office

 

Section 1: Governance Matters (edited)

1.1 Apologies

Dr Quinn had submitted his apologies.

1.2 Conflicts of Interest/Declarations of Interest/Gifts & Hospitality

Members were asked to declare any known conflicts of interests or gifts and hospitality.

There were no conflicts of interest or gifts, and hospitality declared.

1.3 Minutes of Board meeting held on 27 February 2026

The Board approved the minutes of the Board meeting held on 27 February 2026, subject to minor amendment. The Board also approved the version of the minutes for the Publication Scheme, subject to minor amendment.

1.4 Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

1.5 Board Actions List

There were no more actions raised for the list, and it was noted all complete actions can now be removed.

1.6 Chair’s Report

Dr Davies told Members that the business continuity plan worked effectively in response to the Union Street fire, when access to the office was restricted, and that staff were able to work from home.

Dr Davies reported that she attended a talk at the Mason Institute at the Edinburgh School of Law.

Dr Davies confirmed the plans to have more expert witnesses provide talks to the Commission in the new financial year.

1.7 Chief Executive’s Report

Mr Walker reported that the business continuity team met on 12 March to discuss the response to the Union Street fire. It was noted that all staff worked from home. Mr Reddick facilitated having the air conditioning system checked and all the filters were cleaned by the ventilation company. It was noted that the Premier shop on the ground floor of Portland House is a licensed seller of vapes but that there is a lack of regulation about the safety of storing vapes. Mr Reddick and Mr Walker were looking at options to have spare laptops in the case of any other emergency when staff cannot access the office.

Mr Walker reported that the Commission is in the process of instructing a company to inventory the papers, including hard-copy papers, in Commission cases classed as “exceptional” so that those papers can be archived at the National Records of Scotland (NRS), and that this will be taken forward as soon as possible. Once we are receipt of quotes from the three companies we have identified that can provide this service, we shall speak again to Scottish Government about this, both in relation to the necessary funding for this and the relevant Order that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will be required to make under section 194K(1)(f) of the 1995 Act to entitle us to disclose the papers to NRS.

Mr Walker reported that Mr Reddick provided the resource planning document to Scottish Government at their quarterly meeting. We have at this stage asked our sponsor department for the 12-month legal officer post to be made into a permanent post. We await their response.

Mr Walker reported that one member of the admin team has resigned from her post as admin officer and that recruitment for her replacement will take place in due course.

It was noted that Stephen McGowan, Deputy Crown Agent, will attend the April Board meeting, and that the visit from Dame Vera Baird KC, Interim Chair of the CCRC, has been postponed until the summer.

1.8 Court Decisions

25 March 2026 – WX – Minute of Abandonment

Mr Walker told the Board that WX abandoned his appeal proceeding upon the Commission’s referral, owing to his being unable to obtain legal assistance.

1.9 Correspondence:

There was no correspondence.

 

Section 2: Management Issues

2.1 Notification by Members of non-case related work

There was no non-case related work notified by Members.

2.2 Training & Development

The following training and development had been undertaken since the last meeting of the Board:

  • Board and Staff undertook training on 27 March from Professor John Crichton in relation to psychiatric defences.
  • One member of staff undertook VisualFiles training in the week of 16
  • Four members of staff attended the Criminal Law Conference on 17 March 2026.
  • Legal staff undertook risk management training on 24 March.

 

Section 3: Case Matters (edited)

3.1 Monthly Case Summary:

Mr Walker confirmed that a total of 238 applications have been received to date in 2025-26, 32 of which have been concluded after a stage 2l review.

3.2 Notification of cases where final decisions have been issued since the last meeting of the Board, following the 28 days for submission of further representations expiring:

One decision was issued since the last meeting of the Board.

3.3-3.4 There were no cases in these categories.

3.5 Requests for extensions of time to submit further representations:

Two requests for extensions of time were received since the last meeting of the Board.

3.6-3.8 There were no cases in these categories.

 

Section 4: Proposed Referral Cases (edited)

There were no cases in this category.

 

Section 5: Proposed Interim Cases (edited)

The Board considered two statements of reasons in this category. After full discussion it agreed not to refer the cases to the High Court.

 

Section 6: Proposed Supplementary Cases (edited) 

There were no cases in this category.

 

Section 7: Stage 1 Pre-acceptance Cases (edited)

A total of 30 new applications were considered, and the following decisions were made:

1 case Accepted for a review of conviction and sentence.
3 cases Accepted: each case was accepted for a review of conviction.
10 cases Rejected: in each case there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review.
1 case Rejected: the application was a historic case and review is not possible.
5 cases Rejected: in each case the applicant had not appealed and there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review.
4 cases Rejected: in each case the applicant had not appealed.
1 case Rejected: the grounds of review were a repeat of the grounds of appeal.
5 cases Continued: each case continued for one month for more information.

 

Section 8: Concluding Matters

8.1 Any Other Competent Business

There was no other competent business.

8.2 Date of Next Meeting

Board Meeting – Friday 24 April 2026 @ 10:00

 

M McAlinden

7 April 2026