Item 4 is feedback from the meeting of the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing on 31 May 2018. Following the verbal report, there will be an opportunity for brief comments or questions. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk, and I invite John Finnie to provide feedback.
As you said, convener, the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing met on 31 May—just last week. We took evidence from Police Scotland about its firearms licensing process, and we heard from Superintendent Ronnie Megaughin, who is responsible for national firearms and explosives licensing and safer communities, and from Drew Livingstone, the service conditions officer at Unison’s police staff Scotland branch.
In 2015, Police Scotland introduced a new model for the delivery of firearms licensing across Scotland, and, in March 2018, Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary in Scotland published its local policing inspection and firearms licensing report. The report found that the current practice in respect of firearms inquiries had departed significantly from what had been envisaged and approved by the Scottish Police Authority and that the process was inconsistently implemented. The sub-committee heard that a one-size-fits-all approach was not working and that Police Scotland’s current review will consider how to introduce local flexibility. Other issues raised were the increase in the number of police officers carrying out that role and the use of two information technology systems that work separately from each other.
The sub-committee also considered its forward work programme and agreed to schedule an evidence session on 21 June on Police Scotland’s digital data and information and communications technology strategy.
Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from members?
My one overriding comment on last week’s evidence session was that it raised questions about the capacity for undertaking and delivering change in the police. In particular, I am mindful of some projects—particularly IT projects—that have raised questions about how existing practices are captured when change management and transformation programmes are being undertaken.
I have quite a bit of case work in this area. Medical reports are a significant part of licensing. Was there any discussion about that? I have had a lot of complaints about the difficulty of obtaining medical reports and the huge fluctuation in cost, from a tenner to £150.
The issue was alluded to as a positive development in firearms licensing where there was an input from a general practitioner, but the specific issue of the costs incurred in obtaining a GP report was not considered.
That is probably quite a big, problematic area.
That concludes the public part of today’s meeting.
12:13 Meeting continued in private until 12:26.