Interpreting Sexual Offence Verdicts: Public Attitudes to Complainer Anonymity and the "Not Proven" Debate.

The article focuses on a national opinion poll conducted in Scotland regarding public attitudes toward complainer anonymity in sexual offence cases and perceptions of the "not guilty" and "not proven" verdicts under Scots law. The Campaign for Complainer Anonymity at Glasgow Caledonian University advocates for legal reform to grant automatic anonymity to complainers, supported by comparative research and endorsed by the Scottish Government and advocacy groups. The survey of 2,115 Scottish respondents found strong overall support for anonymity, especially after guilty verdicts, but revealed significant gendered differences and distinct public perceptions of the two acquittal verdicts, with "not proven" seen as less stigmatic toward complainers than "not guilty." These findings highlight the symbolic weight the public places on verdict labels despite their legal equivalence and inform ongoing debates about criminal justice reform in Scotland.