3. It’s Time to Create a Criminal Justice System Capable of Giving Justice to Women in Scotland

Sandy Brindley has worked in the rape crisis movement in Scotland for 30 years, starting as a volunteer and now acting as the organisation's Chief Executive. Her work and activism through this time has been heavily influential in driving progress for survivors of rape, sexual assault and abuse in Scotland both in terms of legislative change and improved individual and institutional responses and seeking to address the attitudes and culture that permits this violence. Sandy sits on multiple strategic forums and taskforces – including those of the Scottish Government – contributing her own expertise and working consistently to ensure that survivors voices are heard by those with the power to effect change.

The woman known pseudonymously as "Miss M" became a powerful advocate for justice reform in Scotland after her own experience with the legal system.
In 2013, she was raped by Stephen Coxen. In a 2015 criminal trial, the jury acquitted Coxen using the controversial "not proven" verdict, leaving Miss M feeling that justice was denied.
Determined to fight for justice and closure of the crime, she pursued a landmark civil case against Coxen.
In 2018, the court found in her favour, ruling that Coxen had raped her and awarding her £80,000 in damages.
Miss M then partnered with Rape Crisis Scotland to launch the influential #EndNotProven campaign. The goal was to eliminate the contentious third verdict, which was frequently used in sexual assault cases and was seen as a barrier to closure for survivors.
Her advocacy culminated in a major legislative change. In September 2025, the Scottish Parliament passed the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which officially abolished the "not proven" verdict. The change will take effect for new trials starting in January 2026. Miss M’s brave campaign transformed a personal trauma into a significant reform of Scots law, offering hope and validation to future survivors.