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The Scottish Parliament is now dissolved ahead of the election on Thursday 7 May 2026.

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PE1882: Remand anyone charged with a sexual offence against a child

Petition summary

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that any person charged with a sexual offence against a child is remanded in custody.

Petitioner: Laura Steel

Status: Closed

Date published: 22 June 2021

Click here for the full petition


Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Consideration

SPICe briefing (157KB, pdf) posted 14 July 2021


Committee Meeting

22 September 2021: The Committee agreed to close the petition under Rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that the European Court of Human Rights has developed case law that requires decisions on the remand of individuals accused of offences to be made on a case-by-case basis. As such, it would not be possible for the Scottish Parliament to legislate so as to require that all individuals accused of certain offences such as sexual offences to always be remanded in custody prior to trial.

Official Report of Meeting 1 September 2021


Written submissions

PE1882/A: Scottish Government submission of 20 July 2021