SCOTTISH CRIMINAL CASES REVIEW COMMISSION

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD ON FRIDAY 30 MAY 2025

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

FOR DISCLOSURE VIA THE PUBLICATION SCHEME

Present

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

Also Present

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

 

Section 1: Governance Matters

1.1 Apologies

Mrs Mertes and Dr Quinn submitted their apologies.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Dr Davies and Mr Walker attended the Law Society of Scotland’s Annual Dinner on 28 April 2025.

1.3 Minutes of Board Meeting (25 April 2025)

The minutes were approved with minor amendments and updates.

1.4 Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

1.5 Chair’s Report

  • Noted coverage of Holyrood Audit Committee’s Report.
  • Noted Westminster Justice Committee Report on the CCRC. Full update to be presented in June.

1.6 Chief Executive’s Report

  • Meeting arranged with Deputy Crown Agent and Police Scotland on forensic archive issues.
  • Quarterly sponsor team meeting postponed; budget and maternity cover updates received.
  • Recruitment for new legal officer underway (deadline: 6 June 2025).
  • External auditors commenced 2024–25 audit; revised target to lay accounts: 30 September 2025.
  • New IT security measures under discussion following recent cyber-attacks.
  • Attended NDPB Leaders Forum (15 May 2025).
  • Attended “Understanding Miscarriages of Justice at 25” conference (28 May 2025).
  • Met with Tamara Levy KC, University of British Columbia Innocence Project (29 May 2025).

1.7 Court Decisions

No court decisions.

1.8 Correspondence

No correspondence for consideration.

 

Section 2: Management Issues

2.1 Non-case Related Work

No notifications.

2.2 Training & Development

  • Staff member attended 3-day Law Society course: “Working with Vulnerable People.”
  • Miss Forbes scheduled for On-Board induction training (June 2025).
  • DNA training for Board being organised with Dr Tunde Huszar.

2.3 Information Governance Papers

Draft papers presented by Mr Lynn:

  • Indefinite Retention Cases/Archiving
  • Indefinite Retention Cases Criteria
  • NRS Archive Guidance
  • NRS Supplementary Guidance on Archiving

Papers to be updated and recirculated.

2.4 Environmental Papers

Papers presented by Miss McNab:

  • Environmental Policy – May 2025
  • Environmental Action Plan
  • Climate Risk Register – May 2025

Approved by Board.

2.5 2025–28 Corporate Plan

Final plan approved, subject to year-end updates.

2.6 2025–26 Draft Business Plan

Plan approved, subject to updates. Objectives considered challenging but realistic.

 

Section 3: Case Matters

  • 22 new applications received (May 2025).
  • One final decision issued since last meeting.
  • No notification cases outstanding.
  • One referral press release issued; procedural hearing in July.
  • Post Office/Horizon/Capture update: 10 individuals contacted, 9 letters signed for, 1 refused; no applications received.

 

Section 4: Proposed Referral Cases

No cases.

 

Section 5: Proposed Interim Cases

Two statements considered; Board agreed not to refer.

 

Section 6: Proposed Supplementary Cases

One statement considered; Board agreed not to refer.

 

Section 7: Stage 1 Pre-acceptance Cases

  • 2 cases accepted for review of conviction only.
  • 2 cases accepted for review of sentence.
  • 8 cases rejected: no plausible/stateable grounds.
  • 1 case rejected: applicant had not appealed; not in interests of justice.
  • 8 cases rejected: no appeal and no grounds.
  • 1 case rejected: appeal abandoned without good reason; no grounds.
  • 1 case rejected: grounds repeated appeal; no grounds.
  • 3 cases rejected: grounds repeated appeal.
  • 1 case rejected: appeal abandoned without good reason.
  • 1 case withdrawn.
  • 1 case continued for one month pending more information.

Ms Reilly and Dr Quinn left the meeting for one case each due to conflicts of interest.

 

Section 8: Concluding Matters

8.1 Any Other Business

None.

8.2 Date of Next Meetings

  • Audit Committee – Thursday 12 June 2025 @ 10:30
  • Board Meeting – Friday 27 June 2025 @ 10:00

C Reddick, 16 June 2025

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