Chamber and committees

In June 2022, a refreshed equally safe delivery plan was published, outlining the joint commitment of the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to preventing and eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls and to tackling the underpinning attitudes that perpetuate it.

Through the justice portfolio and the victim-centred approach fund, we have invested £18.5 million in specialist advocacy support for survivors of gender-based violence, and the delivering equally safe fund is providing £19 million per year to support projects that are focused on early intervention and support.

It is only through fundamental societal change that women can be fully protected.

As has been referred to previously, the criminal justice reform bill in the programme for government will aim to improve the experience of victims in the justice system and will help to deliver reforms, building on the recent consultation on improving victims’ experience of the justice system.

The member will be aware that recommendations from Lady Dorrian’s review, on improving the management of sexual offence cases, will be addressed. That will include proposals for the use of, for example, a statutory right to anonymity for complainers in sexual offence cases.

On a related matter, the member will know that we intend to abolish the not proven verdict. That and a number of other workstreams that the minister is involved with will continue. Of course, the possibility of further legislation will also be considered.

As I am sure the member knows, there is not one specific step on its own that can prevent reoffending or that will allow an individual to reintegrate into the community successfully. There needs to be a holistic approach across justice services and wider public services. It is important to recognise that short custodial sentences are less successful at reducing reoffending, and that the presumption against short sentences and the continued development of bail supervision are helping to prevent women from being taken into custody unless that is absolutely necessary.

As I said, the SPS has established a new strategy for women who are in custody, which will support the development of women’s agency through opportunities to make choices. All plans, interventions, approaches and activities will be based on sound evidence and be designed to boost the factors that are known to promote desistance from crime and to improve life chances.

There have been substantial discussions with specialists and with the organisations that are most closely involved in that sector—the member will know the organisations to which I am referring. Over and above that, when the SPS established the two units, it took into account international and academic evidence and the best possible advice on how to properly effect rehabilitation. The units are unique—there are the only two in the United Kingdom, and they are both in Scotland. In my view, they represent the way forward and will allow women to reintegrate into society much more effectively and in a way that reduces future crime. I therefore hope that the units have the support of all members.

The measures that commenced this month will enhance community safety over the fireworks season. As part of the implementation of the measures, the Scottish Government has engaged and shared guidance with the Scottish Retail Consortium, the Scottish Grocers Federation, supermarkets and industry representative bodies. The importance of involving retailers during the roll-out of new measures in the 2022 act is recognised.

In addition, the Scottish Government is funding trading standards to undertake a fireworks enforcement project with retailers. That follows on from a similar project last year to support the implementation of new regulations, and it involves engaging with retailers on the measures that are being introduced through the 2022 act as well as reinforcing existing legislation.

I am pleased to advise the member that the Scottish Government, with its partners, has once again launched the three public awareness-raising campaigns to promote the safe and responsible use of fireworks. Key information on the new proxy purchase offence is being integrated into each of the campaigns to ensure that people are aware of the new offence. We have also worked with stakeholders, including Police Scotland, to share messages across our social media channels on the new statutory aggravation for attacks using fireworks against emergency service workers. The campaigns are running in partnership with partners including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Crimestoppers and trading standards in order to promote the safe and responsible use of fireworks and to cover a wide range of media, including social media and radio, as well as posters and leaflets in retail outlets that sell fireworks.

I have outlined some of the actions that we are taking with our partners through trading standards, Police Scotland and others to ensure that we do so. It is not possible to say now, in the early stages of the implementation of the act, that it has been proved that the assessment of black market activity was wrong. I am aware of the case that Jamie Greene has talked about, which we condemn. However, we have to see how the regulations work out over time.

As I have said, much of the public awareness raising that is going on will continue to be built on, which hopefully will drive out and make more socially unacceptable the kind of black market activity to which Jamie Greene refers.

I agree with the member. The Scottish Government recognises the dedication of the men and women who are willing to serve their country. They and their families rightly deserve quality accommodation that meets their needs. The MOD has a budget of £48 billion, and it is failing to meet its responsibility to address the matter.

Around 3,000 service personnel in Scotland accessing universal credit—38,000 is the figure for the rest of the UK—will come as a shock to many people. [Keith Brown has corrected this contribution. See end of report.] Armed forces having to draw down on universal credit is a scandal. In Scotland, we at least have the 19p tax, which ensures that people in the armed forces in Scotland at that level pay less tax than they do in the rest in the UK, as is the case for most people in Scotland. However, that is a scandal. If the MOD wants to seriously address the issues of recruitment and retention, and respect for our armed forces, it should pay proper wages.

In relation to accommodation, the member will know that I am familiar with the base that he has talked about. The personnel that we have on that base deserve proper, decent accommodation and the MOD should address that as soon as possible.

The member will know that the deployment of police resources, including community patrols, is a matter for Police Scotland, which also works closely with local authorities on preventing and tackling a range of issues, including antisocial behaviour, in their geographical areas.

Supporting Police Scotland to keep our communities safe remains a priority for the Government. Policing services have been maintained and improved, and we have invested more than £10 billion in policing since the creation of the single service, in 2013.

As I mentioned in my previous answer, everyone has the right to be, and to feel, safe in their community or when using public transport. Broadly, reported antisocial behaviour has been in decline over the past decade, but we know that, when issues arise, those can have a very serious impact for many people in our communities. That is why we continue to support activity to prevent antisocial behaviour wherever it occurs.

As I mentioned, no single approach will tackle all antisocial behaviour. That is why we will continue to ensure that partners can call on a range of measures, including the ones that I mentioned, such as the use of antisocial behaviour orders and fixed-penalty notices, as well as diversionary and preventative activities.

I fully support Police Scotland in its attempts to take appropriate and proportionate action in response to reported incidents, and I fully support its continued work, in partnership with transport operators and local authorities, to continue to make public transport safe for passengers and staff.