SCOTTISH CRIMINAL CASES REVIEW COMMISSION

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD ON FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2025

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
  • Dr Alex Quinn – video conference
  • Miss Alyson Forbes – office
  • Ms Jacqueline Fordyce – video conference
  • Mrs Gillian Mawdsley – office
  • Mrs Suzie Mertes – video conference
  • Mr Finlay Young – office

Also Present:

  • Miss Frances McMenamin KC – office
  • Mr Michael Walker, Chief Executive – office
  • Mr Chris Reddick, Director of Corporate Services (minutes) – office

 

Section 1: Governance Matters (edited)

1.1 Apologies

There were no 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 declared.

Mr Walker confirmed that he had attended the Herald Law Awards dinner as a guest of the Law Society for Scotland.

1.3 Minutes of Board meeting held on 31 October 2025

The Board approved the minutes of the Board meeting held on 31 October 2025, 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

Dr Davies referred to the update in respect of Board training and CPD suggestions, confirming that a talk had been arranged with Professor John Crichton for the March 2026 Board meeting. She also asked Members for other suggested topics by early 2026.

1.5 Board Actions List

The Board noted the new actions list and confirmed that this was a useful addition to Board papers. Dr Davies requested that the decisions analysis, prepared for the legal officer group on an ongoing basis, be included on the actions list for circulation to Members in future.

1.6 Chair’s Report

Dr Davies provided the Board with an update on the following matters:

  • She confirmed that she had had discussions with Mr Walker regarding the decision of the Supreme Court in Daly and Keir.
  • She reported that she had dealt with a complaint appeal in respect of one previous applicant and that her decision would be issued today.

1.7 Chief Executive’s Report

Mr Walker provided the Board with an update on the following matters:

  • He reported that he had received an update from Ms Anna Donald at Justice Directorate on 5 November 2025 in respect of the forensic archive issue previously raised.
  • He reported that Laura Pierro, Director of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission, had contacted him and suggested that the North Carolina Commission and the SCCRC meet with our colleagues in the NZ Commission and our soon-to-be colleagues in Canada to discuss issues of commonality. Mr Walker explained that the North Carolina Commission is a state agency dedicated to investigating claims of wrongful convictions and stated that he would take this dialogue forward this calendar year.
  • He reported that the 2025-26 and 2026-27 staff pay award had now been settled and that arrangements were now being made to have this implemented within December 2025 salary payments. Mr Reddick provided a brief update on the agreed metrics and reported that the senior staff remit was still outstanding.

1.8 Court Decisions

Dr Davies referred Members to Mr Walker’s briefing paper on the decision of the Supreme Court in Daly v HMA and Keir v HMA [2025] UKSC 38, which had been circulated with papers for discussion. She thanked Mr Walker for his considerations and asked him to take Members through the key points and matters for decision at this stage.

Mr Walker provided the Board with an overview of the main points of the Supreme Court’s decisions and focused on issues regarding analysis of the relevant law, clarity of the law to be applied in subsequent cases and applications to the Commission.

After further discussion it was agreed that case numbers and initial response to the Supreme Court’s decisions would be further considered at the January 2026 Board meeting, where an update could be provided. It was also agreed that an internal resource planning exercise would be undertaken, looking at various scenario planning and potential resource requirements, based on anticipated case numbers, and that this should be presented to the Board in January/February 2026. It was also agreed that further discussions on the matter would be taken forward with sponsor team, particularly in respect of impact on the Commission and resource implications.

1.9 Correspondence:

There was no correspondence to be considered.

 

Section 2: Management Issues

2.1 Notification by Members of non-case related work

Dr Davies confirmed that she had spent time in November 2025 dealing with various complaint handling matters.

2.2 Training & Development

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

  • The administration team attended website administration training on 19 November 2025.
  • Mr Young will be attending Internal Audit CPD training through Scottish Government in December 2025.

2.3 Persistent & Repeated Applications and Persistent & Vexatious Correspondents Policies

Mr Walker confirmed that both the Persistent & Repeated Applications Policy and the Persistent & Vexatious Correspondents Policy had been reviewed in October 2025, along with his annual review of the registers. He confirmed that he had revisited both policies and suggested some updates to enhance the clarity of the criteria and the overall process. After review the Board approved the updated policies.

 

Section 3: Case Matters (edited)

3.1 Monthly Case Summary:

Mr Reddick confirmed that a total of 15 new applications had been received in November 2025.

3.2-3.8 There were no cases in these categories.

 

Section 4: Proposed Referral Cases (edited)

The Board considered one statement of reasons in this category. After full discussion it was agreed to refer the case to the High Court.

 

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) 

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 7: Stage 1 Pre-acceptance Cases (edited)

A total of 22 new applications were considered, and the following decisions were made:

2 cases Accepted for a review of conviction and sentence.
1 case Accepted for a review of conviction and sentence.
1 case Rejected: it was not in the interests of justice to accept the case for review.
2 cases Rejected: in each case the grounds of review were a repeat of the grounds of appeal and there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review.
4 cases Rejected: in each case the applicant had not appealed and there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review.
5 cases Rejected: in each case there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review.
1 case Rejected: the grounds of review were a repeat of the grounds of appeal.
1 case Reject: in respect of conviction the applicant had not appealed and there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review; and in respect of sentence the grounds of review were a repeat of the grounds of appeal and there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review.
1 case Rejected: the applicant’s appeal was outstanding.
1 case Rejected: the applicant had not appealed.
3 cases Continued for one month for more information.

Ms Fordyce, Mr Young, and Dr Quinn each left the meeting in respect of one case, having previously declared conflicts of interest, and therefore took no part in their consideration.

 

Section 8: Concluding Matters

8.1 Any Other Competent Business

Mr Reddick provided the Board with a demonstration of the new SCCRC website which is under development. He highlighted the key changes from the previous site, including the new online application functionality. The Board provided positive feedback on the new site and noted Mr Reddick’s plans to go-live prior to the Christmas holidays. After further discussion it was agreed to push this back into the new year to avoid any teething problems arising over the holidays when the office will be closed.

8.2 Date of Next Meeting

Board Meeting – Friday 30 January 2026 @ 10:00

 

C Reddick

14 December 2025