Visitors to this website are being asked to consent to cookies before they can use the search feature – a requirement that applies to anyone seeking information on stories such as the conviction of former North Lanarkshire Council leader Jordan Linden. To load Google Custom Search, users must click “Allow and Continue”, a step that allows the service to deploy cookies or similar technologies. The full details are set out in the privacy policy.
Understanding User Consent
Consent is the legal and ethical cornerstone of how websites handle personal data. Under current regulations, a site cannot drop non-essential cookies – those used for functions like custom search – unless a user actively agrees. The prompt you see before using the search tool is not a mere formality; it is a necessary step to ensure that your browsing choices are respected. In practice, this means that every time you wish to look up a topic, from a local news story to a sensitive criminal case, you are asked to make an informed decision about your privacy. The original notice on this page made that clear: “To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click ‘Allow and Continue’ below to enable search.” Without that affirmative click, the search function simply cannot operate. The necessity of this user consent is not a technical inconvenience but a direct reflection of data protection principles that require transparency and choice.
The Search Feature Explained
The search box you encounter uses Google Custom Search, a third-party service that retrieves results from across the web. When you consent, that service may store cookies on your device or use similar tracking technologies to personalise results and improve performance. The trade-off is clear: you gain instant access to a powerful search engine, but you also allow a limited amount of data processing. For users trying to find information about high-profile legal cases – such as the recent conviction of Jordan Linden – this feature becomes an essential gateway. Linden, 30, was convicted in March 2026 at Falkirk Sheriff Court of 10 offences committed between 2011 and 2021 against boys and young men. The youngest victim was 14. His sentencing is scheduled for 5 May 2026. To read the full details of the trial, the allegations, and the political fallout, a reader would need to use the search tool – and therefore give their consent first. This illustrates how the consent requirement is not an abstract privacy notice but a concrete step that users must take to engage with information that matters to them.
Privacy Implications in High-Profile Cases
The case that many will search for – Jordan Linden’s conviction – underscores why robust consent and privacy protections are vital. The offences included five sexual assaults, three counts of stalking (engaging in a course of conduct causing fear or alarm), and charges involving indecent communications and intentionally causing another to look at a sexual image without consent. One incident involved Linden sexually assaulting two victims at a house party in Dundee after a Pride march in 2019. He had denied 15 charges involving 12 male victims aged between 14 and 23, claiming some did not take place or were consensual. Police Scotland arrested and charged him in February 2024. Following his conviction, he was placed on the sex offenders register.
The investigation involved speaking with a broad range of people, many of whom regarded Linden as being in a position of trust. Detective Chief Inspector Diane Barr stated: “He abused this position to befriend young males who were seeking his support and the opportunity to learn from his work, however his conduct toward them was far from professional.” The Scottish Youth Parliament, which Linden previously chaired, described his actions as “reprehensible” and “diametrically opposed to the values and ethos of the Scottish Youth Parliament.” It said it had fully supported the police investigation and prosecution.
Linden had resigned as leader of North Lanarkshire Council in July 2022 following reports of alleged sexual harassment, a move that led to the collapse of the SNP administration in the area. He left the SNP in 2024. During his trial, he suggested the allegations had emerged as a result of media interest and that information had been manipulated; he claimed people he trusted had “turned on him.”
The political response further highlights the sensitivity of the case. First Minister John Swinney ordered an independent review of the SNP’s processes after the conviction, citing concerns about how complaints against Linden were handled. The SNP itself welcomed the verdict and commended “the bravery of the individuals who came forward and shared their experiences with the police.” However, political opponents were critical. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused the SNP of “double standards.” North Lanarkshire Council said: “Our thoughts are with the victims of abuse in this case. All aspects of the council’s youth work service have safeguarding policies and protocols in place to protect individuals.”
Every detail in this story – the ages of the victims, the nature of the offences, the positions of trust, and the party-political fallout – touches on deeply personal and often traumatic lives. It is precisely because such content is sensitive that the process of giving consent to use the search tool matters. Without that consent, the reader cannot access the information; with it, they can, but only after making an active, informed choice. The privacy policy linked from the consent notice sets out how any data collected through the search feature is handled, ensuring that the same principles of transparency that apply to the Linden case also govern the reader’s own digital footprint.
