The Cabinet Secretary confirmed that these provisions aim to “improve efficiency, transparency, independence and public confidence in the police complaints process”, by paving the way for “PIRC to independently and remotely have direct access to audit and review files in Police Scotland’s complaints database".iCriminal Justice Committee, Official Report, 29 May 2024, col 3.
The Committee welcomes that the SPA and the Chief Constable must provide information and documents to PIRC, including access to Police Scotland’s electronic complaints handling system, on which they are stored.