Chamber and committees

The decision to deploy Taser conductive energy devices at railway stations in Scotland was an operational policing decision for the British Transport Police Chief Constable. Ministers have been briefed on the changes, which are intended to strengthen security at major stations, but are not in response to any specific threat.

The Scottish Government has not made any formal assessment of the impact of the vicarious liability provisions in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. There have been two successful prosecutions under these provisions so far. It is likely that the provisions will have had a positive effect as landowners and their agents have put in place arrangements to ensure that their staff and contractors have appropriate training, and understand and comply with the law in this area.

The Scottish Government review of data relating to satellite-tagged birds of prey is expected in Spring 2017.

This will involve a substantial amount of statistical analysis which will examine information from over 200 tagged golden and white-tailed eagles, hen harriers, red kites and ospreys. Once completed, the results of the analysis will provide us with a far greater insight into where these birds are going missing, and that will help to inform future action.

I fully appreciate and value the essential service and vital role Retained Duty System firefighters play in keeping the rural and remote communities of Scotland safe.

However, the recruitment and retention of retained firefighters within Scotland’s Fire Service is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

 

The Scottish Government is aware that Police Scotland has established an EU Measures review team to consider the implications of the referendum result. The review team reports to the Chief Constable and the timing of its meetings and reports is a matter for Police Scotland.

The requirement on the Lord Advocate to issue a code of practice will be commenced in the summer of 2017, along with the other provisions within Part one of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016. The code of practice will come into effect, once a full review and consultation process are carried out by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service.

Police Scotland do not currently hold this information centrally. However the Solicitor Access Recording Form is provided to every individual detained under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, or is arrested but not charged with an offence, and being detained in custody (i.e. held in custody, not detained under section 14) at a police station for the purposes of being questioned in connection with an offence.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02299 on 14 September 2016 for more detail about the national custody system. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The information requested is an operational policing matter for the British Transport Police. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your questions and I have requested that he writes to you.

The information requested is an operational policing matter for the British Transport Police. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your questions and I have requested that he writes to you.

The information requested is an operational policing matter for the British Transport Police. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your questions and I have requested that he writes to you.