Justice Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Official Report 426KB pdf

Justice Sub-Committee on Policing (Report Back)

Agenda item 2 is a report on the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing, with feedback from the convener, Mary Fee, on its meeting of 14 September 2017. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk.

On 14 September, the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing took evidence on Police Scotland’s internal complaints procedures from Iain Livingstone, deputy chief constable designate of Police Scotland, and Nicola Marchant, deputy chair of the Scottish Police Authority.

The sub-committee was pleased to hear that Police Scotland has shifted its focus from process to people, to ensure that police officers and staff are better supported and have more confidence in Police Scotland’s complaints procedures. For the first time, the procedures include a whistleblowing policy and a wellbeing initiative that aims to support staff to deal with a wide range of issues, whether personal, procedural or related to conduct.

The sub-committee looks forward to hearing more detail on how those will impact on supporting officers and staff to help them feel confident that the issues that they raise will be dealt with effectively and confidentially.

The sub-committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 28 September, when it will take evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on governance of the Scottish Police Authority. I am happy to answer any questions from members.

As there are no questions from members, I say that we were pleased that the focus has moved from process to people. We will see whether that is actually realised—that will be the test.

Yes, that will be the test.

Thank you for that report. Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday 26 September 2017, when we will continue to take evidence on the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Bill.