Police have rescued 59 women trafficked into Scotland’s booming off-street sex industry.

Despite pleas by social work chiefs, Peeblesshire councillors have rejected a bid by foster carers to continue looking after vulnerable children.

An end to almost all short jail terms was signalled yesterday under radical plans from the Scottish Government’s Prison’s Commission. Instead, offenders would face a simplified, toughened community sentence.

A senior hospital manager has been suspended after a laptop containing the unencrypted personal data of more than 20,000 patients was stolen, a health trust admitted yesterday.

Fewer criminals in Scotland should be locked up in prisons, the long-awaited independent review of penal policy is expected to recommend.

A campaign to raise awareness of Scotland’s National Care Standards was launched with a dramatic flourish today. As well as a TV advert, the campaign will feature a touring theatre production which will visit day centres and care homes throughout Scotland.