1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 3 in private.

2. Evidence session:

The Committee took evidence on the following petitions: 

• PE1947: Address Scotland's culture of youth violence

• PE2064: Ensure that under 16s charged with rape are treated as adults in the criminal justice system 

The Committee took evidence from— 

• The Right Hon Dorothy Bain KC, Lord Advocate

• Alistair Hogg, Head of Practice and Policy for the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

• Stephanie Ross, Principal Procurator Fiscal Depute in the Policy Unit the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

and then from— 

• Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs supported by Clare Collin, Violence Reduction Team Leader and Tom McNamara, Head of Youth Justice & Children’s Hearings.    

3. Consideration of Evidence:

The Committee considered the evidence it heard under item 2.