Building a New Scotland: Justice in an independent Scotland - Easy Read

Building a New Scotland : Justice in an independent Scotland : Easy Read version

This paper is about the Scottish Government’s plans for justice in an independent Scotland.

If Scotland was independent, we would have more control to deal with difficult issues in Scotland. These include drugs, gambling and organised crime.

An independent Scotland would also work with other countries to tackle justice issues across borders. These include terrorism, internet crime and serious organised crime.

Justice in Scotland

Scotland has had its own justice system for hundreds of years. It has its own courts, police service, prisons, and fire and rescue service. It also has its own legal profession.

The Scottish Government has set out a vision for a just, safe, and strong Scotland.

Our justice system should tackle the causes of crime and help ex-offenders rejoin the community.

It is important to offer person-centred support. This helps victims recover from the effects of crime. We are also tackling violence against women and girls.

We have been working to make the justice system better. We plan to do more. But there is a lot for Scotland to be proud of.

For example, crime is lower than in the past. Our single police service for the whole of Scotland has been set up to protect people from harm.

Making a difference

Independence would allow us to make changes in areas like serious organised crime, firearms and human trafficking.

An independent Scotland would have a constitution which would protect equality and human rights. Scotland could sign up for international treaties as an independent country.

We would be able to make changes in areas like the laws on drugs. Instead of punishing people, we would be able to do more to help them.

We could help people who have problems with gambling. We could make our own decisions about how to control firearms.

An independent Scotland would set up its own security organisations. They would work with others to fight threats such as terrorism and cyber-attacks.

Cyber-attacks are carried out using computers and the internet and can result in your identity being stolen allowing someone to pretend to be you.

Working together

We want an independent Scotland to join the EU as soon as possible after independence. This would give us access to international systems and information that would make us safer.

Scotland would work with our partners in the EU and around the world to tackle global challenges like serious organised crime.

Conclusion

Scotland has had its own justice system for hundreds of years.

With independence we could make changes in areas that are currently controlled by the UK Government. We could also work with other countries to help make Scotland safer.