Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-12648

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) criminal and (b) non-criminal complaints the Police Scotland Professional Standards Division has dealt with each year since 2013, also broken down by how many (i) were upheld and (ii) remain unresolved.

The Scottish Government do not hold the data requested.

The investigation of allegations of criminal conduct against police officers is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who can instruct Police Scotland or the independent Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to investigate. All such investigations are carried out under the independent direction and control of COPFS and Crown Counsel.

Non-criminal complaints dealt with by PSD are a matter for the designated deputy Chief Constable.

You may find the attached report, from Police Scotland’s Professional Standards department, of assistance:

http://www.scotland.police.uk/assets/pdf/138327/397941/psdstatisticalperformancereport-april2016-march2017

Question reference: S5W-12649

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the (a) criminal and (b) non-criminal complaints that the Police Scotland Professional Standards Division (PSD) has dealt with each year since 2013 were (i) resolved by PSD, (ii) referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and (iii) referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

The Scottish Government do not hold the data requested.

The investigation of allegations of criminal conduct against police officers is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who can instruct Police Scotland or the independent Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to investigate. All such investigations are carried out under the independent direction and control of COPFS and Crown Counsel.

Non-criminal complaints dealt with by PSD are a matter for the designated deputy Chief Constable.

You may find the attached report, from Police Scotland’s Professional Standards department, of assistance:

http://www.scotland.police.uk/assets/pdf/138327/397941/psdstatisticalperformancereport-april2016-march2017

Question reference: S5W-12650

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government in how many of the (a) criminal and (b) non-criminal complaints that the Police Scotland Professional Standards Division (PSD) has dealt with each year since 2013, which were referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the initial investigation was carried out by (A) PSD and (B) Police Scotland.

The Scottish Government do not hold the data requested.

The investigation of allegations of criminal conduct against police officers is a matter for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who can instruct Police Scotland or the independent Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to investigate. All such investigations are carried out under the independent direction and control of COPFS and Crown Counsel.

Non-criminal complaints dealt with by PSD are a matter for the designated deputy Chief Constable.

You may find the attached report, from Police Scotland’s Professional Standards department, of assistance:

http://www.scotland.police.uk/assets/pdf/138327/397941/psdstatisticalperformancereport-april2016-march2017

Question reference: S5W-12484

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many women have been given prison sentences of (a) between (i) six and 12 and (ii) three and five and (b) less than three months in each of the last five years, broken down by (A) offence and (B) sheriffdom.

Question reference: S5T-00759

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported criticism of the Scottish Police Authority by some members of its board.

Question reference: S5O-01477

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice Professional Recognition Pilot.

Question reference: S5W-12182

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 November 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations and police training it has introduced prior to the commencement of Part 1 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016.

Since the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act (the Act) was passed, the Scottish Government has led a Part 1 Implementation Group comprising Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscals Office, the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service. The purpose of the group is to ensure that a collaborative approach is taken across the justice system in order to deliver a smooth and timely transition to the new arrest and custody system under Part 1 of the Act. The group meets every 4-6 weeks, with members providing updates on various aspects of their implementation plans.

Police Scotland has created an extensive training package for implementation of the Act. All police officers up to and including the rank of Inspector have received training on the new provisions within Part 1. This has involved e-training and also a one day face-to-face training session on the provisions of the Act. In addition to the general training for all officers, Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs), Interview Advisors and custody officers are currently undertaking role-specific training.

Also in preparation for Part 1 of the Act commencing, Police Scotland introduced a National Custody system across Scotland in January 2017. This system has now been developed to incorporate the provisions contained within Part 1 of the Act and is currently being subjected to user testing prior to the Part 1-compliant version going live in January 2018. Specialist custody officers are currently being trained in the updated system in preparation for it going live.

To support implementation Police Scotland have also carried a process of updating their guidance materials relating to arrest and custody procedures. This includes the creation of aide memoire cards and updated police notebooks containing guidance on the new provisions.

Question reference: S5O-01309

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NFU Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-10866

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government many police sniffer dogs there are.

Question reference: S5W-10865

Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 September 2017

To ask the Scottish Government which prisons have access to police sniffer dogs, and for how long each week.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

SPS manage and deploy its own Dog Teams. These teams are primarily based at HMPs Barlinnie, Edinburgh, Grampian, Low Moss, Perth and Shotts and provide a service across the whole prison estate.

The Dog Teams are utilised at different periods of the day as directed by the Tactical Search Manager and may be deployed locally or nationally dependent on need and current intelligence. SPS has an established search plan for each establishment which ensures that all key areas are searched within agreed timescales.

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