Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Accused.scot, what it covers, and how it works.
What is Accused.scot?
Accused.scot is an independent Scottish website that publishes source-led analysis of criminal justice procedure, evidential rules, and institutional transparency. It examines how the justice system operates in practice — particularly in areas that are not well understood outside the courtroom.
Is this a legal advice service?
No. Accused.scot does not provide legal advice, representation, or case-specific guidance. Nothing on this site should be taken as a substitute for advice from a qualified Scottish solicitor. If you have a legal matter, please consult a solicitor.
Who runs the site?
The site is maintained and written by a small number of contributors working on a voluntary basis. Individual contributors are not publicly identified. The reasons for this are explained on the Authorship and Transparency page.
Is the site biased towards the accused?
The site is concerned with whether legal processes operate fairly and whether evidence is properly examined. That focus naturally involves scrutiny of how allegations are handled, how admissibility decisions are made, and how the system treats those accused of serious offences. That is not the same as assuming guilt is never established or that complainers are never telling the truth. It means the process by which guilt is determined must be sound, evidence must be properly tested, and procedure must be applied consistently.
Does the site cover cases outside Scotland?
The site's primary focus is Scotland. Scots criminal law and procedure differs significantly from the law of England and Wales and other jurisdictions. Where material from other jurisdictions is referenced, this is made clear.
What is Section 275?
Section 275 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 governs the admissibility of certain evidence in sexual offence cases. It is one of the most consequential and least understood parts of Scottish criminal procedure. The site has published detailed analysis of how it operates in practice and what the Daly and Keir appeals mean for how it should be applied. You can find that material in the articles section.
What are Freedom of Information requests?
Freedom of Information requests are formal requests for recorded information held by Scottish public bodies, submitted under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Accused.scot submits FOI requests to bodies including the Scottish Government, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, and Police Scotland. The responses, including refusals, are published and analysed. How this works is explained in more detail on the Methodology page.
Can I submit information or a tip?
Yes. If you have information, documents, or material relevant to the site's work, you can contact us at contact@accused.scot. All correspondence is treated with discretion. The site does not publish private information without consent and does not act as a conduit for material that could prejudice ongoing proceedings.
Can I contribute an article?
The site does not currently accept unsolicited articles for publication. If you have a proposal relevant to the site's focus areas, you are welcome to make contact at contact@accused.scot to discuss it.
I think something on the site is wrong. What should I do?
Send the details to contact@accused.scot. Factual errors are corrected promptly and noted in the relevant article. The corrections policy is set out in full on the Editorial Standards page.
How is the site funded?
The site is non-commercial and carries no advertising. Running costs are met by the site's editors. Reader support is accepted voluntarily through Buy Me a Coffee. No supporter has any influence over editorial decisions or content.
What is the Nameless Truth Project?
The Nameless Truth Project is a separate reflective project on the site that invites anonymous responses from individuals who believe they may have made false or materially misleading allegations. It is distinct from the site's analytical and FOI work. More information is available on the project's own page.