Bills and Laws

Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill

As introduced, this Bill would require the police to have a code of ethics, make changes relating to the handling of police conduct, increase the functions of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and introduce an advisory board for the Commissioner.

The Bill is at Stage 1

Overview
Introduced
Stage 1 - General principles

Stage 1 - General principles

Committees examine the Bill and gather views. They produce reports before MSPs debate the Bill in the Chamber. MSPs then decide on the purpose (“general principles”) of the Bill.

The Bill is at Stage 1

Committee Examination

The lead committee for this Bill is the Criminal Justice Committee

Find out more about this committee

Background research

A research briefing on the background to the Police (Ethics, Conduct & Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill and a review of police complaints systems in other jurisdictions.

Police Complaints Background Note by the Clerk (1MB, pdf) posted 26 June 2023

Criminal Justice Committee’s approach to the Bill

The Criminal Justice Committee has agreed its intended approach to scrutiny of the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1.

The Committee issued a call for views, with a closing date for written submissions of Friday, 8 December 2023.

Following the closing date, the Committee will consider who to invite to provide oral evidence on the Bill.

The Committee is expected to begin oral evidence taking once its Stage 1 consideration of the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill has concluded.

Please note that the above information is for planning purposes only and it is subject to change.

Submit your views

The Committee’s call for views closed on Friday, 8 December 2023.

View the published responses

Stage 1 deadline

On 1 November 2023, the Parliament agreed motion S6M-11046, that consideration of the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be completed by 21 June 2024.

On 5 June 2024, the Parliament agreed motion S6M-13494, that consideration of the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be extended to 13 September 2024.

Informal Meeting

On Wednesday 17 April 2024, the Criminal Justice Committee heard informally from an individual with experience of the police complaints system. An anonymised note of the discussion can be found here.

Read the note (85KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024