SCOTTISH CRIMINAL CASES REVIEW COMMISSION

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD ON FRIDAY 31 JULY 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
  • Miss Alyson Forbes – office
  • Ms Jacqueline Fordyce – video conference
  • Mrs Gillian Mawdsley – office
  • Mrs Suzie Mertes – office
  • Mr Finlay Young – video conference

Also Present:

  • Miss Frances McMenamin KC – video conference
  • Mr Michael Walker, Chief Executive – office
  • Mr Chris Reddick, Director of Corporate Services (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 26 June 2026

The Board approved the minutes of the Board meeting held on 26 June 2026. The Board also approved the version of the minutes for the Publication Scheme.

1.4 Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

1.5 Board Actions List

The Board noted progress on previously agreed Board actions and agreed the removal of one further action.

1.6 Minutes of the Audit Committee held on 25 June 2026

The Board noted the minutes of the Audit Committee meeting held on 25 June 2026. The Board also noted the version of the minutes for the Publication Scheme.

1.7 Matters Arising

Mrs Mertes referred to the discussions regarding AI and confirmed that she had now received a set of training slides from recent training which she agreed to forward to Mr Reddick so that he could circulate these to the Board.

1.8 Audit Committee Actions List

The Board noted progress on previously agreed Audit Committee actions.

 

Section 2: Case Matters (edited)

2.1 Monthly Case Summary:

The Board noted that a total of 40 new applications had been received in July 2026 and Mr Walker provided an update on current active case and cases due to call at the Board in August 2026.

2.2 – 2.6 There were no cases in these categories.

2.7 Persistent & Repeated Applications – Appeal against Rejection – One case

Mr Fenn provided the Board with a summary of an individual’s application of 1 June 2026 and the basis for the subsequent rejection of the application in accordance with the Persistent & Repeated Applications Policy. After full consideration, the Board agreed not to uphold the appeal and for Dr Davies to advise the individual of the decision.

(Mr Walker left the meeting for this discussion having taken the initial decision not to accept the applicant’s latest application)

2.8 There were no cases in these categories.

 

Section 3: Proposed Referral Cases 

There were no cases in this category.

 

Section 4: Proposed Interim Cases 

There were no cases in this category.

 

Section 5: Proposed Supplementary Cases 

There were no cases in this category.

 

Section 6: Stage 1 Pre-acceptance Cases (edited)

A total of 24 new applications were considered, and the following decisions were made:

1 case Accepted for a review of conviction and sentence.
1 case Rejected: the applicant had not appealed, and there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review.
1 case Rejected: the applicant had not appealed and it was not in the interests of justice.
8 cases Rejected: in each case there were no plausible or stateable grounds of review.
1 case Rejected: a review was not possible because of the historic nature of the case.
6 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: in both cases the grounds of review were a repeat of the grounds of appeal.
1 case Continued: for one month for more information.

 

Section 7: Management Issues (edited)

7.1 Chair’s Report

7.1.1    Dr Davies provided Members with an update on the latest Board recruitment exercise, including details of the current timeline and recruitment strategy. The Board discussed specific skills that would be beneficial to the Board and ways of promoting the recruitment exercise.

7.1.2    Dr Davies confirmed that she would be meeting Cat Dalrymple, Director for Justice at the Scottish Government, for her annual update meeting on 12 August 2026.

7.2 Chief Executive’s Report

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

  • He reported that Scottish Government had approved funding to make the current fixed-term legal officer position permanent and provided an update on recruitment plans.
  • He reported that he had received a response from the Chief Executive at SPS on 29 June 2026 to his enquiries regarding access to prisoners via the current Webex system. The Chief Executive at SPS had confirmed that this system is available only to solicitors. After discussion Mr Walker confirmed that he would raise the matter with Scottish Government and seek an amendment to the relevant Regulations.
  • He reported that there had been a minor data breach on 17 July 2026 whereby two acknowledgement letters had been issued by mistake with other correspondence. No sensitive data was contained within the letters and the matter was not reported to the ICO.
  • He reported that he had written to Scottish Government regarding the archiving exercise for exceptional case materials with the National Archive of Scotland, in terms of both funding and the required order under s174K(1)(f).
  • He provided the Board with an overview of the Head of Casework position, which had been referred to within the Public Services Reform Paper and had been removed from complement in October 2021 following the promotion of the previous postholder. The quality assurance aspects of the role were discussed against the current case volumes and staffing requirements.
  • He reported that he had written to the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and the President of the Faculty Criminal Bar Association regarding potential future s274/275 cases.
  • He reported that he had received communication from Ms Sandy Brindley, who was now working with the Emma Ritch Law Clinic at the University of Glasgow, regarding any contact with complainers in s274/275 cases.
  • He provided an update in respect of a Judicial Review case confirming that legal aid had been granted and noting that he would put the petition and our answers on the agenda for the meeting in August.

7.3 Court Decisions

Mr Walker reported that a Commission’s referral had been unsuccessful and confirmed that a copy of the court’s written reasons would be included on the agenda for the meeting in August. He also confirmed that there were currently three outstanding referrals at the Appeal Court.

7.4 Correspondence:

There was no correspondence.

7.5 Notification by Members of non-case related work

There was no non-case related work.

7.6 Training & Development

Mr Walker confirmed that one of the new administration staff had undertaken first aid training.

7.7 Quarterly Case Statistics Report – 30 June 2026

Mr Walker provided the Board with a summary of the quarterly case statistics to 30 June 2026, noting that a total of 84 cases had been received this year to date and that, at this rate, 2026-27 would be another record-breaking year.

7.8 Quarterly Finance Report – 30 June 2026

Mr Reddick provided the Board with an overview of the quarterly financial position as at 30 June 2026, noting that expenditure represented 28% of the annual budget. He specifically provided updates on staff costs, legal expenses and system support costs, noting that the later budget was under pressure as a result of increased licensing costs and compliance work. Dr Davies noted that training and development expenditure was low and Mr Reddick confirmed that this would increase over the next two quarters, reflecting both CPD requirements and planned training.

7.9 Quarterly Summary Case Review Targets – 30 June 2026

Mr Walker provided an update on performance against the summary case review targets as at 30 June 2026, noting that targets were currently being achieved. As with 2025-26, he confirmed that targets 3 and 4 would continue to be challenging, particularly with the continued increase in case numbers.

7.10 Quarterly Business Plan Objectives Report – 30 June 2026

Mr Reddick provided the Board with a full update on progress against the 2026-27 Business Plan Objectives, noting good progress across all quarters to date.

7.11 Corporate Risk Register Update – Quarter 1

Mr Reddick provided the Board with a full update on the Commission’s Corporate Risk Register, which had been considered at the last Audit Committee meeting on 25 June 2026. He reported one proposed change to risk scoring which was endorsed by the Board. He also raised one additional area of risk which he recommended incorporating within the current register. After full discussion, this was agreed by the Board.

 

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 28 August 2026 @10:00

 

C Reddick

18 August 2026