Commentary on Sections Sentencing Section 31 – Sentences for offences with a terrorist connection: Scotland
90.Section 31 provides that in Scotland the sentencing court must treat a terrorist connection (as defined in section 93), proved to the trial court, as an aggravating factor when sentencing for an offence specified in Schedule 2 to the Act (offences where terrorist connection to be considered). Subsection (3) requires a court imposing an aggravated sentence for an offence with a terrorist connection to state the extent and reasons for the difference between the sentence it imposed and that it would have imposed if the offence had not had a terrorist connection. Subsection (4) provides that evidence from a single source is sufficient to prove this aggravating factor – which is different from the usual position under the law in Scotland where corroboration is required. Subsection (5) provides that this new aggravating factor will only apply in relation to offences committed on or after commencement.