BBC Breakfast presenters Charlie Stayt and Luxmy Gopal delivered significant news on New Year's Day, detailing a historic overhaul of Scotland's criminal justice system.
Landmark Legal Changes Take Effect
During the live broadcast on Thursday, 1 January 2026, Stayt announced that the unique 'not proven' verdict has been abolished in Scottish courts. This verdict, which allowed defendants to walk free without a formal acquittal, has long been a distinctive and contentious feature of Scots law.
"Major reforms to Scotland's justice system come into force today," Stayt outlined. Alongside the end of the 'not proven' verdict, another key change is that a simple majority on a jury will no longer be sufficient for a conviction, requiring a higher threshold.
A Victim's Search for Closure
The programme featured a pre-recorded report by Scottish correspondent Lorna Gordon, who interviewed a woman sexually assaulted a decade ago during her university freshers' week. Her attacker was cleared in a criminal court after the jury returned a 'not proven' verdict.
"I think the not proven verdict, it left me confused, it left me angry," the victim revealed. "For me, I didn't see a future. There was no ending, there was no closure." She explained that it took several years and a successful civil case, which operates on the balance of probabilities, to achieve a sense of resolution after the criminal acquittal.
Debate and Division Over Reform
Campaigners have welcomed the abolition, arguing the verdict created confusion and ambiguity for victims and jurors alike. However, the move has its critics within the legal establishment.
Defence barrister Thomas Leonard Ross KC condemned the change, stating, "I think it's a terrible thing. It's an act of self-mutilation for the country." He argued that Scotland's three-verdict system was superior to others globally.
The reforms have sparked wider debate. Scottish ministers also abandoned a pilot programme for juryless rape trials following significant backlash from judges and lawyers.
As Lorna Gordon concluded, the changes mark a profound shift. Abolishing the 'not proven' verdict is a major milestone in Scotland's distinctive legal history, fundamentally altering how justice is delivered.
BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on Rape Crisis England and Wales or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland's helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
