Scotland's sexual offences court 'difficult to deliver', admits justice secretary

Scotland's Justice Secretary Neil Gray has admitted that establishing a standalone sexual offences court will be "difficult to deliver," as no funding has been allocated to the flagship project. The court was a key part of the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill passed by MSPs last year. The Crown Office has warned that SNP ministers have not provided funding to begin work on the court, which was designed to allow complainers to give evidence in advance and reduce waiting times. Gray told Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee that work is "ongoing" and that no additional resources were requested for the project until next financial year. The admission comes as figures show rapes and attempted rapes in Scotland rose by nearly one third in four years, to 3,240 in the year to June 2026. First Minister John Swinney has pledged "personal leadership" to tackle violence against women, with the court's delivery targeted before the next election in 2031.