EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Government to give free access to rape trial records
Justice Secretary says a pilot project will be made permanent
Last updated 15th Sep 2025
Victims of rape and serious sexual assaults in Scotland are to get transcripts of their court cases for free on a permanent basis.
Scotland became the first country in the UK to launch a pilot scheme enabling survivors to apply for a free written record of their case with more than 100 applications received since March 2024.
But we can reveal it is to become a legal entitlement after the Scottish Government accepted an amendment to its landmark Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform Bill which will be voted on by MSPs tomorrow.
Free access
The move could save victims thousands of pounds.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance told Cool FM:
“For victims of serious sexual assaults, the justice process can be very traumatic and it can be difficult to take in what is said in court at the time.
“Being able to obtain transcripts, where victims can go over exactly what was said in court in their own time, can help their recovery, but the costs can be prohibitive.
“We expect the Scottish Government will have invested almost £300,000 in the current court transcript pilot by the time it concludes next March, and if Parliament supports the amendment, funding will be continued to support its delivery.”
The Scottish Government has accepted a number of other major changes to its bill including allowing victims to make statements to court, setting out how the crime has impacted them physically, emotionally and financially.
Ms Constance adds:
“Victim impact statements give victims an important opportunity to set out, in their own words, how the crime has affected their lives – something that legal facts alone cannot capture.
“Currently victims are eligible to make written impact statements to a court where there is a guilty plea or verdict in certain serious cases.
“The Scottish Government also supports extending, through this legislation, the use of victim impact statements in all solemn procedures.”
Opposition still wants more
The Bill is likely to win the backing of Holyrood, but the Scottish Conservatives are pushing the Scottish Government to make further changes.
Shadow Justice Secretary Liam Kerr has written to the First Minister to call for a Scottish grooming gangs inquiry and for killers to be kept in prison if they fail to disclose the location of their victim’s remains:
“Ahead of the final vote on it on Tuesday there are still far too many shortcomings for it to sufficiently and permanently strengthen victims’ rights in Scotland.
“Too often the SNP’s justice system lets victims down, and this new legislation cannot be another missed opportunity.
“That is why I have written to John Swinney ahead of this crucial vote urging him to look again at amendments we have put forward to support victims.
“It’s not too late for him to make the right choice and truly transform victims’ rights.
“The ball is in John Swinney’s court.”