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Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill

The Bill integrates British Transport Police (BTP) in Scotland with Police Scotland.

This is a Government bill

The Bill became an Act on 1 August 2017

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

The Bill integrates British Transport Police (BTP) in Scotland with Police Scotland.

BTP polices the railways in Scotland under an agreement with railway operators.

The Bill gives railway policing powers to:

  • Police Scotland (the Police Service of Scotland)
  • the Scottish Police Authority

The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) is a public body of the Scottish Government. They hold Police Scotland, the national police service, to account.

The aim of the Bill is to give Police Scotland the sole authority to police the railways in Scotland. 

Why the Bill was created

British Transport Police will not be responsible for policing railways in Scotland. This means that Police Scotland will take over this responsibility.

There are certain things that the Scottish Parliament has the power to make decisions on. These are known as ‘devolved matters’. Railway policing will be a devolved matter.

Bill as Introduced

Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill as introduced (142KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2016

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (199KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2016

Policy Memorandum (197KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2016

Financial Memorandum (266KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2016

Delegated Powers Memorandum (148KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2016

Statements on legislative competence (85KB, pdf) posted 08 December 2016

Financial Resolution

The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill SPICe briefing

The Bill was introduced on 8 December 2016

Stage 1: general principles

At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.

Lead committee examines the Bill

The lead committee for this Bill is the Justice Committee.

Call for views (closed)

The deadline for sharing your views on this Bill has passed.

Read the responses

Who spoke to the lead committee

Stage 1 report by the lead committee

Work by other committees

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee


Meetings

Stage 1 Debate and decision

A Stage 1 debate took place on 9 May 2017 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.

  • Motion title: Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill.
  • Submitted by: Humza Yousaf
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
  • Motion reference: S5M-05423
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 09 May 2017

Result 66 for, 44 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote Vote Passed

See further details of the motion


Parliament agreed the general principles of the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 1 on 9 May 2017

Stage 2: changes to the Bill

At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them. 

Meetings of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee at Stage 2

First meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at this meeting held on 30 May 2017:

First Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (98KB, pdf) posted 28 May 2017

First Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (121KB, pdf) posted 28 May 2017

Bill as amended at Stage 2

Revised Documents 

Revised Explanatory Notes (134KB, pdf) posted 02 June 2017

Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (158KB, pdf) posted 02 June 2017

The Bill ended Stage 2 on 30 May 2017

Stage 3: final changes and vote

At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them.  There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law. 

Debate on proposed amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at this meeting on 27 June 2017:

First Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (77KB, pdf) posted 25 June 2017

First Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (114KB, pdf) posted 25 June 2017

Final version of the Bill

Final debate on the Bill

Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.

  • Motion title: Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees that the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill be passed.
  • Submitted by: Humza Yousaf
  • Date lodged: Monday, 26 June 2017
  • Motion reference: S5M-06356
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Result 68 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote Vote Passed

See further details of the motion


Parliament decided to pass the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 3 on 27 June 2017

Bill becomes an Act

If the Bill is passed, it can receive Royal Assent and become an Act.

This Bill was passed on 27 June 2017 and became an Act on 1 August 2017.

Read the Act

Railway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017