National Focus: Stories from Scotland

New Drug-Checking Pilot in Dundee

Scotland has launched a new £1.5 million national drug-checking pilot in Dundee, marking a major step in harm-reduction policy. The Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee, supported by the Scottish Government, will analyse samples from local testing sites to detect emerging synthetic substances such as potent nitazene opioids. The pilot complements the UK’s first licensed drug-checking service in Glasgow, where users can legally test pills and powders for contaminants and receive harm-reduction advice. Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd hailed the initiative as a “vital step” in Scotland’s national mission to reduce drug-related deaths, while Professor Niamh Nic Daeid said the Dundee lab will provide critical intelligence on drugs in circulation. Similar applications for services in Edinburgh and Aberdeen have been submitted.

Scottish Government Sued for £170 Million Over Recycling Scheme

Biffa Waste Services is suing the Scottish government for £170 million after the collapse of Scotland’s proposed Deposit Return Scheme — a recycling initiative meant to encourage the return of bottles and cans. The company claims that it invested heavily based on “clear assurances” from then Green Party minister Lorna Slater that the scheme would proceed. Biffa argues that it spent around £50 million preparing for the rollout and lost £115 million in projected profits after the government delayed the launch in 2023. The delay followed a dispute with the UK government, which refused approval unless glass recycling was excluded to align with a UK-wide model. Scottish ministers deny negligence, insisting Biffa “was aware of the risks involved.” Lord Clark ruled the case could go to a full hearing, noting that “questions remain” about Biffa’s losses. Biffa stated that the company acted “in good faith… on the expectation that the delivery of the scheme had been mandated by the Scottish government.” 

Nicholas Rossi Guilty of Rape

On 20 October, Nicholas Rossi was sentenced to at least five years in prison for rape in the US. After faking his death in 2020 to evade charges of rape and fraud, he resurfaced in Scotland under the alias “Arthur Knight,” claiming to be an Irish orphan. Arrested in a Glasgow hospital in 2021, Rossi insisted he was a victim of mistaken identity, even donning an oxygen mask and a three-piece suit during court appearances. However, DNA evidence and distinctive tattoos proved otherwise. Rossi was extradited to the US in 2024, where he was convicted of raping two women in Utah in 2008. His victims described lasting trauma, while Judge Barry Lawrence branded him a “serial abuser of women.” Rossi awaits his second sentencing in November 2025.

More information on the issues raised in this article can be accessed via Rape Crisis Scotland on their website https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/help-helpline/ or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 08088 01 03 02. Advice and support on reporting sexual assault from the University can be found by visiting https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/sexual-misconduct/.

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