THOUSANDS of Scottish criminal cases could collapse due to a European human rights ruling over police interviews.
Scotland is one of only a few EU countries where suspects do not have the right to legal advice during interviews with authorities.
But, after a landmark ruling in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over a Turkish case, lawyers here are beginning to lodge legal bids to have evidence from interviews thrown out.
That case saw the confession of a 17-year-old Turk being retracted because he did not have a lawyer present during his police interrogation.
Article six of the human rights convention states that everyone has the right to a fair trial, including legal representation.
In November last year the ECHR decided that this applied to pre-trial investigations and upheld his appeal that a confession was inadmissible as evidence.
Since 2000 decisions made in the ECHR are binding on Scottish courts meaning the ruling could also see thousands of cases since 2000 being appealed.
It would also force police to overhaul their current system for investigation.
Deadline Press & Picture Agency 