All meetings of the committee

This is all meetings of Criminal Justice Committee held in 2025. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

35th Meeting

17 December

1. Sentencing Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Kevin Fulton
  Community Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Ruth Swanson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Sentencing Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
3. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Siobhian Brown
  Minister for Victims and Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Jeff Gibbons
  Violence Against Women and Girls Unit Head
  Scottish Government
• Graham Robertson
  Public Protection Unit
  Scottish Government
4. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)
6. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

34th Meeting

10 December

1. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Dr Emma Forbes
  National Lead for Domestic Abuse
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Professor Liz Gilchrist
  Criminal Law Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Detective Superintendent Adam Brown
  Police Scotland
• Glyn Lloyd
  Chief Social Work Officer and Head of Children's and Community Justice Services Dundee City Council and Chair of Justice Standing Committee
  Social Work Scotland
2. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)
5. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish prisons (in private)

33rd Meeting

03 December

1. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)
3. Decision on taking business in private
4. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Debbie Jupp
  Operational Manager
  Committed to Ending Abuse
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Agnes Tolmie
  Chair
  Scottish Women’s Convention
• Tumay Forster
  Operational Manager
  Shakti Women's Aid
5. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Delivery Review
Show witnesses
• Colin Brown
  Executive Council Member for Scotland
  Fire Brigades Union
• John McKenzie
  Scottish Regional Secretary
  Fire Brigades Union
6. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish prisons (in private)
7. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill (in private)
8. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Delivery Review

32nd Meeting

26 November

1. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Ash Regan
  Member in Charge of the Bill
  Scottish Parliament
• Maren Schroeder
  Senior Researcher
  Office of Ash Regan MSP
• Anna MacLeod
  Parliamentary Assistant
  Office of Ash Regan MSP
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Cat Dalrymple
  Director of Justice
  Scottish Government
• Don McGillivray
  Director of Safer Communities
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Suzanne Lyle
  Family Law Unit
  Scottish Government
• Graham Robertson
  Public Protection Unit
  Scottish Government
• Louise Miller
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• David Doris
  Prison Policy, Community Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Hannah Hutchison
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
6. Subordinate legislation
7. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
8. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

31st Meeting

19 November

1. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Siobhian Brown
  Minister for Victims and Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Anna Donald
  Deputy Director, Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Jeff Gibbons
  Violence Against Women and Girls Unit Head
  Scottish Government
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Teresa Medhurst
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Linda Pollock
  Deputy Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Amy McDonald
  Director of Finance
  Scottish Prison Service
3. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

30th Meeting

12 November

1. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons (in private)
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• John Logue
  Crown Agent and Chief Executive
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Yvette Greener
  Chief Operating Officer
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Malcolm Graham
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
and then from:
• Stuart Stevens
  Chief Officer
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Andy Watt
  Deputy Chief Officer
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Sarah O'Donnell
  Deputy Chief Officer (Corporate Services)
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

29th Meeting

05 November

1. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Dr Emma Forbes
  National Lead for Domestic Abuse
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Liliana Torres Jimenez
  Criminal Policy Executive and Secretary of the Criminal Law Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram
  Police Scotland
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Jo Farrell
  Police Scotland
• Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs
  Professionalism, Strategy and Engagement
  Police Scotland
• Lynn Brown
  Head of Finance
  Police Scotland
and then from:
• Fiona McQueen
  Chair
  Scottish Police Authority
• Alasdair Hay
  Vice Chair
  Scottish Police Authority
• Chris Brown
  Chief Executive and Accountable Officer
  Scottish Police Authority
3. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

28th Meeting

29 October

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Fiona Thom
  Head of Parole, Release and Reintegration
  Scottish Government
• Ruth Swanson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Teresa Medhurst
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Alasdair Thomson
  Senior Tribunals Policy Officer
  Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Dr Niina Vuolajärvi
  Assistant Professor in International Migration
  London School of Economics
• Ruth Breslin
  Director
  Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute, Republic of Ireland
• Dr Larissa Sandy
  Associate Professor of Criminology
  University of Nottingham
• Professor Jo Phoenix
  Professor of Criminology
  University of Reading
7. Evidence Session (in private)
8. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons (in private)

27th Meeting

08 October

1. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Diane Martin CBE
  A Model for Scotland
• Amanda Jane Quick
  Nordic Model Now!
• Bronagh Andrew
  Operations Manager
  TARA and Routes Out Services
and then from:
• Niki Adams
  English Collective of Prostitutes
• Lynsey Walton
  Chief Executive
  National Ugly Mugs
• Laura Baillie
  Political Officer
  Scotland for Decrim
2. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

26th Meeting

02 October

25th Meeting

01 October

1. Crime and Policing Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Alison Morris
  Organised Crime Unit
  Scottish Government
• Graham Robertson
  Public Protection Unit
  Scottish Government
• Kristy Adams
  Organised Crime Unit
  Scottish Government
• Kathryn Lewis
  Organised Crime Unit
  Scottish Government
2. Crime and Policing Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
3. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons (in private)

24th Meeting

24 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Maree Todd
  Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport
  Scottish Government
• James McLellan
  Deputy Director, Community Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• David Doris
  Prisons Policy Team Leader, Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Richard Foggo
  Director of Population Health
  Scottish Government
• Alison Crocket
  Whole Systems Unit, Drugs Policy Division
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Philip Lamont
  Head of Criminal Law, Practice and Licensing Unit
  Scottish Government
• Jasmin Hepburn
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons (in private)

23rd Meeting

17 September

1. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
Show witnesses
• Leona Paget
  Prison Health Care Lead
  Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership
• Rhoda MacLeod
  Head of Adult Services
  Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership
• Linda Pollock
  Deputy Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Sarah Angus
  Director of Policy
  Scottish Prison Service
• Suzy Calder
  Head of Health and Wellbeing
  Scottish Prison Service
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons (in private)
4. Work programme (in private)

22nd Meeting

10 September

1. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
Show witnesses
• Phil Fairlie
  Assistant General Secretary
  Prison Officers Association (Scotland)
• John Cairney
  Scottish National Committee Chair
  Prison Officers Association (Scotland)
and then from:
• Dr Victoria Marland
  Lead researcher for Scottish Prison Service research project
  Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science
• Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Higgins
  Police Scotland
• Jim Smith
  Head of Operations and Public Protection
  Scottish Prison Service
• Gillian Walker
  Governor in Charge HMP Shotts
  Scottish Prison Service
2. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)

21st Meeting

03 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
Show witnesses
• Gillian Reilly
  Head of Service for Alcohol and Drug Partnership Executive
  NHS Scotland
• Haydn Pasi
  Head of National Voluntary Throughcare Partnership (Upside)
  SACRO
• Marianna Marquardt
  Policy and Research Officer
  Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs
• Hamish Robertson
  Director of Data & Insights
  The Wise Group
and then from:
• Dr Craig Sayers
  Clinical Lead, Prison Healthcare, NHS Forth Valley and
  National Prison Care Network
• Dr Lesley Graham
  retired public health doctor and founding member of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems
• Dr Catriona Connell
  Research Fellow
  University of Stirling
3. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons

20th Meeting

25 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Pam Gosal
  Member in Charge of the Bill
  Scottish Parliament
• Charlie Pound
  Head of Policy and Research
  Scottish Conservative MSP Group
• Roz Thomson
  Principal Clerk, Head of Non-Government Bills Unit
  Scottish Parliament
• Agata Maslowska
  Senior Clerk, Non-Government Bills Unit
  Scottish Parliament
• Ailidh Callander
  Senior Solicitor, Legal Services Office
  Scottish Parliament
3. Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Ash Regan
  Member in Charge of the Bill
  Scottish Parliament
• Maren Schroeder
  Senior Researcher
  Office of Ash Regan MSP
• Anna MacLeod
  Parliamentary Assistant
  Office of Ash Regan MSP
4. FAIs/Deaths in custody
5. Member's Bills (in private)
6. Member's Bills (in private)
7. Challenges facing businesses and vulnerable individuals in Scotland from the risks of cybercrime
8. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

19th Meeting

11 June

1. Subordinate legislation
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Kevin Fulton
  Team Leader, Community Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Ruth Swanson
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill

18th Meeting

04 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Avril Davidson
  Police Division
  Scottish Government
• Ruth Swanson
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
Show witnesses
• Kevin Neary
  Co-founder and Coordinator
  Aid & Abet
• Dr Sarah Rodgers
   Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer
  Families Outside
• Professor Susanna Galea-Singer
  Clinical Lead and Consultant Psychiatrist
  NHS Fife Addiction Services
• Gemma Muir
  Senior Manager
  Sustainable Interventions Supporting Change Outside (SISCO)
• Tracey McFall
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Recovery Consortium
5. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
6. Member's Bills

17th Meeting

28 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons
Show witnesses
• Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Higgins
  Police Scotland
• John Mooney
  Consultant in Public Health
  Public Health Scotland
• Kirsten Horsburgh
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Drugs Forum
• Stephen Coyle
  Head of Operational Delivery
  Scottish Prison Service
• Suzy Calder
  Head of Health and Wellbeing
  Scottish Prison Service
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Inquiry into the harm caused by substance misuse in Scottish Prisons

16th Meeting

21 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Non-fatal strangulation
Show witnesses
• Fiona Drouet
  Petitioner and CEO and Founder of EmilyTest
• Fiona McMullen
  Operations Manager
  ASSIST
• Professor Cath White
  Medical Director
  Institute for Addressing Strangulation
and then from:
• Dr Emma Forbes
  National Lead for Domestic Abuse
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Liliana Torres Jimenez
  Criminal Policy Executive and Secretary of the Criminal Law Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Detective Chief Superintendent Sarah Taylor
  Head of Public Protection
  Police Scotland
• Detective Superintendent Lindsay Fisher
  Public Protection Branch
  Police Service of Northern Ireland
3. Non-fatal strangulation (in private)
4. Work programme (in private)

15th Meeting

14 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Challenges facing Business and Vulnerable Individuals in Scotland from Cybercrime
Show witnesses
• Adam Stachura
  Associate Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs
  Age Scotland
• David Keenan
  Chief Information Officer
  Arnold Clark
• Jude McCorry
  Chief Executive
  Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland
• Nicola Taylor
  Partnership Member
  CyberScotland Partnership
• Miles Bonfield
  Deputy Director
  National Crime Agency
• Chris Ulliott
  Head of Cyber Security
  NatWest Bank
• Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston
  Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Intelligence
  Police Scotland
3. Secure accommodation
4. Challenges facing Business and Vulnerable Individuals in Scotland from Cybercrime
5. Annual report

14th Meeting

30 April

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Patrick Down
  Criminal Law & Procedure Team Leader
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Research on the impact of the UK’s exit from membership of the EU on law enforcement and judicial cooperation in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Gemma Davies
  Associate Professor of Criminal Law
  Durham University
• Helena Farrand Carrapico
  Professor of International Relations and European Politics
  Northumbria University

13th Meeting

23 April

1. Subordinate legislation
2. People’s Panel on tackling drug deaths and drugs harm
3. Work programme (in private)

12th Meeting

02 April

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill

11th Meeting

26 March

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill

10th Meeting

19 March

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill

9th Meeting

12 March

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill

8th Meeting

05 March

1. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (in private)

7th Meeting

26 February

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Heather Reece-Wells
  Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Lisa McCloy
  Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Andrew Baird
  Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Carole Robinson
  Violence Against Women and Girls Unit
  Scottish Government
• Simon Stockwell
  Family Law Unit
  Scottish Government
• Nicola Guild
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Sarah Crawford
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (in private)

6th Meeting

19 February

1. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Vallath Kavitha Krishnan
  Bill Team Leader, Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Vicky Carmichael
  Team Leader, Violence Against Women and Girls Justice Unit
  Scottish Government
• Louise Miller
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)

5th Meeting

05 February

1. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Fiona Drouet
  Founder and CEO
  EmilyTest
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Women's Aid
and then from:
• Katie Brown
  Equally Safe Policy Manager
  COSLA
• Graeme Simpson
  Chief Social Work Officer, Aberdeen City Council
  representing Social Work Scotland
• Dr Emma Fletcher
  Director of Public Health
  NHS Tayside
2. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (in private)

4th Meeting

29 January

1. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Laura Buchan
  Policy and Engagement
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Emma Forbes
  National Lead for Domestic Abuse
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Malcolm Graham
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Superintendent Richard Thomas
  Police Scotland
• Detective Superintendent Adam Brown
  Police Scotland
and then from:
• Professor John Devaney
  University of Edinburgh
• Professor Neil Websdale
  Director of the Family Violence Center
  Arizona State University
• Dr Grace Boughton
  Criminologist
2. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (in private)

3rd Meeting

22 January

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Susan Black
  Senior Policy Officer, Civil Law and Legal Systems Unit
  Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Simon Brown
  President
  Scottish Solicitors Bar Association
• Stuart Munro
  Criminal Law Committee Convener
  Law Society of Scotland
• Paul Smith
  President
  Edinburgh Bar Association
and then from:
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
• Adam Stachura
  Associate Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs
  Age Scotland
5. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (in private)

2nd Meeting

15 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) Annual Report 2023/24
Show witnesses
• Michelle Macleod
  Commissioner
  Police Investigations & Review Commissioner
• Phillip Chapman
  Director of Operations
  Police Investigations & Review Commissioner
• Sharon Smit
  Accountable Officer
  Police Investigations & Review Commissioner
3. Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) Annual Report 2023/24
4. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (in private)

1st Meeting

08 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Policing vulnerable people
Show witnesses
• Dr Inga Heyman
  Associate Professor
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton
  Police Scotland
• Chief Superintendent Matt Paden
  Police Scotland
• Dr Robby Steel
  Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist
  NHS Scotland
• David Hamilton
  Mental Health Manager
  The State Hospital
and then from:
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Lynsey McKean
  Police Policy Team Leader, Police Division
  Scottish Government
• Alastair Cook
  Principal Medical Advisor, Mental Health Division
  Scottish Government
3. Policing vulnerable people

This is all meetings of Criminal Justice Committee held in 2024. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

40th Meeting

18 December

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Graham Robertson
  Head of Public Protection Unit
  Scottish Government
• David Gallagher
  Public Protection Unit
  Scottish Government
• Jamie MacQueen
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Graham Robertson
  Head of Public Protection Unit
  Scottish Government
• Louise Miller
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (in private)
7. Work programme (in private)

39th Meeting

11 December

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Siobhian Brown
  Minister for Victims and Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Lucy Smith
  Victims and Witnesses Unit
  Scottish Government
• Mari Bremner
  Forensic Mental Health
  Scottish Government
• Jasmin Hepburn
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

38th Meeting

04 December

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Sandy Brindley
  Chief Executive
  Rape Crisis Scotland
• Louise Johnson
  National Policy Lead for Legal Issues
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
and then from:
• Simon Brown
  President
  Scottish Solicitors Bar Association
• Michael Meehan KC
  Faculty of Advocates
• Stuart Munro
  Criminal Law Committee Convener
  Law Society of Scotland
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

37th Meeting

27 November

1. Subordinate legislation

36th Meeting

20 November

1. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

35th Meeting

14 November

34th Meeting

13 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Don McGillivray
  Director of Safer Communities
  Scottish Government
• Gillian Russell
  Director of Justice
  Scottish Government
3. Prospective Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill
4. Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Annual Report 2024
Show witnesses
• Dr Brian Plastow
  Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
• Ross MacDonald
  Director
  Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
6. Work programme (in private)

33rd Meeting

06 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Malcolm Graham
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• John Logue
  Crown Agent
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
and then from:
• Teresa Medhurst
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Linda Pollock
  Deputy Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Gerry O'Donnell
  Director of Finance
  Scottish Prison Service
3. National Outcomes
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
5. Work programme (in private)

32nd Meeting

30 October

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Deputy Convener
3. Decision on taking business in private
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Jo Farrell
  Police Scotland
• Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors QPM
  Crime and Operational Support
  Police Scotland
• James Gray
  Chief Financial Officer
  Police Scotland
and then from:
• Martyn Evans
  Chair
  Scottish Police Authority
• Lynn Brown
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Police Authority
• Fiona Douglas
  Director of Forensic Services
  Scottish Police Authority
5. 3rd EU Tracker Report
6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
7. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill

31st Meeting

09 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Patrick Down
  Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Vallath Kavitha Krishnan
  Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Nicola Guild
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Karyn McCluskey
  Chief Executive
  Community Justice Scotland
• Keith Gardner
  Specialist Advisor
  Community Justice Scotland
• Lynsey Smith
  Chair of the Justice Standing Committee
  Social Work Scotland
6. Pre-budget scrutiny

30th Meeting

02 October

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

29th Meeting

25 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Food Standards Scotland - tackling food crime
Show witnesses
• Ian McWatt
  Deputy Chief Executive
  Food Standards Scotland
• Ron McNaughton
  Head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit
  Food Standards Scotland
4. Food Standards Scotland - tackling food crime
5. Work programme (in private)

28th Meeting

11 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Policing and mental health
Show witnesses
• David Threadgold
  Chair
  Scottish Police Federation
• Superintendent Suzanne Smith
  Vice President
  Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
• David Malcolm
  Branch Secretary
  Unison Police Staff Scotland Branch
and then from:
• Chief Constable Jo Farrell
  Police Scotland
• Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs
  Professionalism, Strategy and Engagement
  Police Scotland
• Katy Miller
  Director of People and Development
  Police Scotland
and then from:
• Fiona McQueen
  Vice Chair
  Scottish Police Authority
• Lynn Brown
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Police Authority
• Alasdair Hay
  Board Member
  Scottish Police Authority
3. Policing and mental health
4. Work programme (in private)

27th Meeting

04 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - current challenges and proposed reforms
Show witnesses
• Colin Brown
  Executive Council Member for Scotland
  Fire Brigades Union
• Dave Crawford
  Scottish Official
  Fire and Rescue Services Association
• Tim Kirk
  Inverness & North Regional Representative
  Fire and Rescue Services Association
and then from:
• Ross Haggart
  Chief Officer
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Stuart Stevens
  Deputy Chief Officer
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Sarah O'Donnell
  Director of Finance and Contractual Services
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
3. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - current challenges and proposed reforms

26th Meeting

26 June

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
2. Work programme (in private)

25th Meeting

19 June

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

24th Meeting

12 June

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Jennifer Stoddart
  Head of Parole, Release and Reintegration Unit
  Scottish Government
• Jamie MacQueen
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Teresa Medhurst
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Andy Hodge
  Governor, HMP Perth
  Scottish Prison Service
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

23rd Meeting

05 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Emergency release of prisoners and other key challenges in Scotland’s prisons
Show witnesses
• Professor Sarah Armstrong
  Professor of Criminology
  University of Glasgow
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
• Lynsey Smith
  Chair of the Justice Standing Committee
  Social Work Scotland
and then from:
• Wendy Sinclair-Gieben
  HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland
  HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland
• Phil Fairlie
  Deputy General Secretary
  Prison Officers Association Scotland
• Paula Arnold
  Governor, HMP and YOI Stirling, Vice Chair
  Prison Governors Association (Scotland)
• Ian Bryce
  Legal Vice Chair
  Parole Board for Scotland
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Emergency release of prisoners and other key challenges in Scotland’s prisons

22nd Meeting

29 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Kevin Lee
  Police Division
  Scottish Government
• Steven Bunch
  Police Division
  Scottish Government
• Caroline Kubala
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Annual report
5. Work programme (in private)

21st Meeting

23 May

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Craig Naylor
  Chief Inspector
  HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland
2. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

20th Meeting

22 May

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Fiona McQueen
  Vice Chair
  Scottish Police Authority
• Katharina Kasper
  Chair of the Complaints and Conduct Committee
  Scottish Police Authority
• Robin Johnston
  Head of Legal
  Scottish Police Authority
and then from:
• Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs
  Professionalism, Strategy and Engagement
  Police Scotland
• Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison
  Head of Professional Standards
  Police Scotland
• Nicky Page
  Head of Human Resources
  Police Scotland
2. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

19th Meeting

16 May

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini KC
  Chair of the independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct in Relation to Policing
2. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

18th Meeting

15 May

1. Criminal Justice Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Alison Morris
  Head of Serious Organised Crime Policy – Divert and Deter, Organised Crime Unit
  Scottish Government
• Kristy Adams
  Policy Officer, Organised Crime Unit
  Scottish Government
• Ruth Swanson
  Solicitor, Equalities and Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
2. Criminal Justice Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Susan Black
  Senior Policy Officer, Civil Law and Legal System Unit
  Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Michelle Macleod
  Commissioner
  Police Investigations & Review Commissioner
• Phillip Chapman
  Director of Operations
  Police Investigations & Review Commissioner
• Sharon Clelland
  Head of Legal Services
  Police Investigations & Review Commissioner
and then from:
• Justin Farrell
  Head of CAAPD
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
6. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
7. Work programme (in private)

17th Meeting

08 May

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Stephanie Griffin
  Scotland Policy Manager
  Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Dr Genevieve Lennon
  Scottish Institute of Policing Research
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
and then from:
• Chief Superintendent Rob Hay
  Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
• David Kennedy
  General Secretary
  Scottish Police Federation
• David Malcolm
  Branch Secretary
  Unison Police Staff Scotland Branch
2. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

16th Meeting

01 May

15th Meeting

24 April

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Margaret Gribbon
and then from:
• Ian Clarke
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Work programme (in private)

14th Meeting

17 April

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Stephanie Bonner
and then from:
• Bill Johnstone
and then from:
• Magdalene Robertson
2. Work programme (in private)

13th Meeting

27 March

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Siobhian Brown
  Minister for Victims and Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Jim Wilson
  Licensing Team Leader
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

12th Meeting

20 March

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

11th Meeting

13 March

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

10th Meeting

06 March

1. Criminal Justice Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

9th Meeting

28 February

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

8th Meeting

21 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Siobhian Brown
  Minister for Victims and Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Jim Wilson
  Licensing Team Leader
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
5. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill
6. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

7th Meeting

07 February

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Andrew Baird
  Policy Officer, Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Alastair Bowden
  Policy Officer, Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Jeff Gibbons
  Unit Head, Violence Against Women and Girls Unit
  Scottish Government
• Nicola Guild
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Linsay Mackay
  Policy Officer, Criminal Law, Practice and Licensing Unit
  Scottish Government
• Lisa McCloy
  Unit Head, Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Heather Tully
  Policy Officer, Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

6th Meeting

06 February

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Simon Brown
  Vice-President
  Scottish Solicitors Bar Association
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

5th Meeting

31 January

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• The Right Honourable Dorothy Bain KC
  Lord Advocate
and then from:
• The Right Honourable Lord Matthews
  Senator of the College of Justice
• Sheriff Andrew Cubie
  Sheriff of Glasgow & Strathkelvin
  Appeal Sheriff and Temporary High Court Judge
and then from:
• Dr Andrew Tickell
  Lecturer in Law, Department of Economics and Law
  Glasgow Caledonian University
• Seonaid Stevenson-McCabe
  Lecturer in Law, Department of Economics and Law
  Glasgow Caledonian University
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

4th Meeting

24 January

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Professor James Chalmers
  Regius Professor of Law, School of Law
  University of Glasgow
• Professor Vanessa Munro
  Professor of Law, Law School
  University of Warwick
• Professor Cheryl Thomas KC
  Co-Director of the UCL Judicial Institute
  University College London
and then from:
• Tony Lenehan KC
  President of Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association
• Sheila Webster
  President
  Law Society of Scotland
• Alan McCreadie
  Head of Research and Secretary to the Society’s Criminal Law Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Simon Di Rollo KC
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

3rd Meeting

17 January

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Jennifer McCann
• Hannah McLaughlan
• Hannah Reid
• Ellie Wilson
and then from:
• Sarah Ashby
• Hannah Stakes
• Anisha Yaseen
and then from:
• Sandy Brindley
  Chief Executive
  Rape Crisis Scotland
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Emma Bryson
  Speak Out Survivors
2. Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

2nd Meeting

11 January

1. Management of transgender prisoners in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• David Doris
  Prisons Policy Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Jamie MacQueen
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Teresa Medhurst
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation

1st Meeting

10 January

1. Improving the Management of Sexual Offence Cases
Show witnesses
• The Right Honourable Lady Dorrian
  Lord Justice Clerk, Senator of the College of Justice
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• The Right Honourable Dorothy Bain KC
  Lord Advocate
and then from:
• David Fraser
  Executive Director Court Operations
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Danielle McLaughlin
  Head of the Lord Justice Clerk’s Review
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
3. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

This is all meetings of Criminal Justice Committee held in 2023. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

35th Meeting

20 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Chief Constable Jo Farrell: vision and priorities for Police Scotland
Show witnesses
• Chief Constable Jo Farrell
  Police Scotland
• Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors QPM
  Crime and Operational Support
  Police Scotland
• James Gray
  Chief Financial Officer
  Police Scotland
3. Chief Constable Jo Farrell: vision and priorities for Police Scotland
4. Work programme (in private)

34th Meeting

13 December

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Ronnie Renucci KC
  Vice-Dean
  Faculty of Advocates
• Stuart Munro
  Law Society of Scotland
• Stuart Murray
  President
  Scottish Solicitors Bar Association
and then from:
• Laura Buchan
  Procurator Fiscal Policy and Engagement
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Alisdair Macleod
  Principal Procurator Fiscal Depute, Policy Division
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
2. Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

33rd Meeting

06 December

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Sandy Brindley
  Chief Executive
  Rape Crisis Scotland
• Joe Duffy

32nd Meeting

29 November

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Eamon Keane
  Lecturer in Evidence and Criminal Procedure
  University of Glasgow
• Professor Fiona Leverick
  Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, School of Law
  University of Glasgow
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

31st Meeting

22 November

1. Deaths in custody
2. Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018
3. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

30th Meeting

15 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Heather Tully
  Criminal Justice Reform Unit, Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Lucy Smith
  Victims and Witnesses Unit, Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Simon Stockwell
  Family Law Policy Unit, Civil Law and Legal System Division
  Scottish Government
• Kirsty Anderson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Thematic Review of Policing Mental Health in Scotland
Show witnesses
• Craig Naylor
  Chief Inspector
  HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland
• Brian McInulty
  Lead Inspector
  HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland
• Dr Arun Chopra
  Medical Director
  Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, Advisory Group Member
4. Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Thematic Review of Policing Mental Health in Scotland

29th Meeting

08 November

1. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Teresa Medhurst
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Gerry O'Donnell
  Interim Director of Finance
  Scottish Prison Service
and then from:
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Catriona Dalrymple
  Interim Director of Justice
  Scottish Government
• Donald McGillivray
  Director of Safer Communities
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Heather Tully
  Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Patrick Down
  Criminal Law Practice and Licensing Unit
  Scottish Government
• Nicola Guild
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Susan Black
  Senior Policy Officer, Civil Law and Legal System Division
  Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

28th Meeting

02 November

27th Meeting

01 November

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Dr Caroline Bruce
   Head of Programme, Transforming Psychological Trauma
  NHS Education for Scotland
• Professor Thanos Karatzias
  Professor of Mental Health, Edinburgh Napier University and Clinical & Health Psychologist
  Rivers Centre for Traumatic Stress
and then from:
• Laura Buchan
  Procurator Fiscal Policy and Engagement
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Sue Brookes
  Interim Director for Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement
  Scottish Prison Service
• Chief Superintendent Derek Frew
  Police Scotland
• John Watt
  Chairperson
  Parole Board for Scotland
• David Fraser
  Executive Director Court Operations
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Karyn McCluskey
  Chief Executive
  Community Justice Scotland
• Chris McCully
  Head of Policy
  Community Justice Scotland
3. Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

26th Meeting

25 October

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Jonathan Campbell
  President
  Edinburgh Bar Association
• Jamie Foulis
  Committee Member and Treasurer
  Family Law Association
• Stuart Munro
  Convener of the Criminal Law Committee
  The Law Society of Scotland
2. Access to court transcripts
3. Forensic pathology services
4. Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

25th Meeting

04 October

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Ann Marie Cocozza
  Co-Founder
  FAMS (Families and Friends Affected by Murder and Suicide)
• Sandy Brindley
  Chief Executive
  Rape Crisis Scotland
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
and then from:
• Dr Louise Hill
  Head of Policy, Evidence and Impact
  Children 1st
• Bill Scott
  Director of Policy
  Inclusion Scotland
• Graham O'Neill
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Refugee Council
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)

24th Meeting

27 September

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Anna Donald
  Deputy Director, Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Lisa McCloy
  Head of Criminal Justice Reform Unit
  Scottish Government
• Nicola Guild
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)

23rd Meeting

26 September

22nd Meeting

20 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Deaths in custody
Show witnesses
• Gill Imery
  Chair
  Deaths in Custody Review Group
4. Post-legislative scrutiny review of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018
5. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022
6. Deaths in custody
7. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill

21st Meeting

13 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors QPM
  Crime and Operational Support
  Police Scotland
• David Page
  Deputy Chief Officer
  Police Scotland
• James Gray
  Chief Financial Officer
  Police Scotland
• Lynn Brown
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Police Authority
• Ross Haggart
  Chief Officer
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Stuart Stevens
  Deputy Chief Officer
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• John Thomson
  Acting Director of Finance and Procurement
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
and then from:
• Stephen McGowan
  Deputy Crown Agent
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Eric McQueen
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
4. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
5. Pre-budget Scrutiny

20th Meeting

28 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Responses to police officer and staff suicides
Show witnesses
• Stewart Carle
  General Secretary
  Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
• Andy Shanks
  Deputy Procurator Fiscal, Specialist Casework and Head of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie
  Partnerships, Prevention & Community Wellbeing
  Police Scotland
• Katy Miller
  Director of People and Development
  Police Scotland
• Fiona McQueen
  Chair of the People Committee
  Scottish Police Authority
• David Threadgold
  Chair
  Scottish Police Federation
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Responses to police officer and staff suicides
5. Tackling online child abuse, grooming and exploitation
6. Work programme (in private)

19th Meeting

21 June

1. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Michael Halpin
  Defence Policy Manager, Directorate for Safer Communities
  Scottish Government
• Clare McKinlay
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
3. Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Tom Arthur
  Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance
  Scottish Government
• Sian Ledger
  Land Reform Policy and Legislation Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• George Dickson
  Team Leader Detect and Disrupt, Defence, Security and Cyber Resilience
  Scottish Government
• Michael Paparakis
  Civil Law Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Patrick Down
  Team Leader, Criminal Law Practice and Licensing Unit
  Scottish Government
4. Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
5. Online Safety Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Maree Todd
  Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport
  Scottish Government
• Hilary Third
  Head of Self-Harm Policy and Distress Interventions - Mental Health
  Scottish Government
• Katy Richards
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
6. Online Safety Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
7. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022
8. Policing and mental health

18th Meeting

07 June

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Peter Jamieson
  Police Division
  Scottish Government
• Graham Thomson
  Police Division
  Scottish Government
• Louise Miller
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation

17th Meeting

31 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Walter Drummond-Murray
  Head of Civil Courts Unit
  Scottish Government
• Conor Samson
  Justice Cooperation Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Tackling online child abuse, grooming and exploitation
Show witnesses
• Daljeet Dagon
  Programme Manager
  Barnardo's Scotland
• Stuart Allardyce
  Director, Stop it Now! Scotland
  Lucy Faithfull Foundation
• Wendy Hart
  Deputy Director, Threat Leadership Child Sexual Abuse
  National Crime Agency
• Joanne Smith
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  NSPCC Scotland
• Detective Superintendent Martin MacLean
  Head of National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Specialist Crime Division
  Police Scotland
• Alison Penman
  Senior Manager, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Depute Chair, Child Protection Group
  Social Work Scotland
5. Access to court transcripts
6. Tackling online child abuse, grooming and exploitation

16th Meeting

24 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Tom Arthur
  Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance
  Scottish Government
• George Burgess
  Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy
  Scottish Government
• George Dickson
  Team Leader Detect and Disrupt, Defence, Security and Cyber Resilience
  Scottish Government
• Kirsty Anderson
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
4. Priorities in the Justice Sector and an Action Plan
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private)
7. Work programme (in private)
8. Annual report

15th Meeting

17 May

1. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill

14th Meeting

10 May

1. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill

13th Meeting

03 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Siobhian Brown
  Minister for Victims and Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Mary Hockenhull
  Safer Communities Policy
  Scottish Government
• Fiona McDiarmid
  Unit Head, Building Safer Communities
  Scottish Government
• Clare McKinlay
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
6. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill

12th Meeting

26 April

1. Responses to the Committee’s pre-budget scrutiny of the 2023/24 Budget
2. Policing and mental health
3. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 (in private)

11th Meeting

19 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Angela Constance
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
  Scottish Government
• Natalie Don
  Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise
  Scottish Government
• Catriona Dalrymple
  Deputy Director, Community Justice
  Scottish Government
• Tom McNamara
  Head of Youth Justice & Children’s Hearings
  Scottish Government
• Barry McCaffrey
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Access to court transcripts
4. Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
5. Work programme (in private)

10th Meeting

29 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Linda Allan
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
and then from:
• Jim Shields
  Service Manager
  St Mary's Kenmure Secure Care Centre
• Professor Lorraine Johnstone
  Consultant Forensic and Clinical Psychologist
  St Mary's Kenmure Secure Care Centre
• Wendy Sinclair-Gieben
  HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland
  HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland
• Gerald Michie
  Governor, HMP & YOI Polmont
  Scottish Prison Service
• Sue Brookes
  Interim Director for Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement
  Scottish Prison Service
• Alison Bavidge
  National Director
  Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW)
3. Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
4. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018

9th Meeting

22 March

8th Meeting

08 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Vivienne McColl
  Policy Manager, International Justice Cooperation Unit
  Scottish Government
• Ruth Swanson
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Post-legislative scrutiny review of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018
Show witnesses
• Dr Claire Houghton
  Lecturer in Social Policy and Qualitative Research
  University of Edinburgh
• Professor Michele Burman
  Professor of Criminology, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research
  University of Glasgow
• Amanda Masson
  Partner
  Harper Macleod LLP
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Women's Aid
and then from:
• Moira Price
  National Procurator Fiscal for Domestic Abuse and Head of Victims and Witnesses Policy Team
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Craig Naylor
  Chief Inspector
  HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland
• Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds
  Head of Public Protection, Specialist Crime Division
  Police Scotland
6. Post-legislative scrutiny review of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018

7th Meeting

01 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Mental Health Law Review
Show witnesses
• Professor Colin McKay
  Centre for Mental Health and Capacity Law, Edinburgh Napier University and Member of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review Team
3. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 Implementation Timetable
4. Scottish Mental Health Law Review
5. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)

6th Meeting

22 February

1. Transgender prisoners and Scottish prisons
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Neil Rennick
  Director of Justice
  Scottish Government
• Teresa Medhurst
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Jim Kerr
  Interim Deputy Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Sandra Wallace
  Parole Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Nicholas Duffy
  Senior Principal Legal Officer
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Priorities in the Justice Sector and an Action Plan
5. Policing and mental health
6. Virtual trials
7. Access to court transcripts
8. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)

5th Meeting

08 February

1. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (in private)

4th Meeting

01 February

1. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Jennifer Stoddart
  Community Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Philip Lamont
  Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Linsey Mackay
  Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Ruth Swanson
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Jamie MacQueen
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)

3rd Meeting

25 January

1. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• John Watt
  Chair
  Parole Board for Scotland
• Mark McSherry
  Chief Executive
  Risk Management Authority
• Jim Kerr
  Interim Deputy Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
and then from:
• Kenny Donnelly
  Procurator Fiscal, Policy and Engagement
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• David Fraser
  Executive Director Court Operations
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
2. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)

2nd Meeting

18 January

1. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Fred Mackintosh KC
  Faculty of Advocates
• Stuart Munro
  Convenor, Criminal Law Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Joanne McMillan
  Committee Member
  Glasgow Bar Association
and then from:
• Professor Nancy Loucks OBE
  Chief Executive
  Families Outside
• David Mackie
  Howard League Scotland
• Wendy Sinclair-Gieben
  HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland
  HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland
and then from:
• Chief Superintendent Gordon McCreadie
   Divisional Commander, Criminal Justice Services Division
  Police Scotland
• Chief Inspector Nick Clasper
  Policy and Partnerships, Criminal Justice Services Division
  Police Scotland
2. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)

1st Meeting

11 January

1. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
• Emma Bryson
  Speak Out Survivors
and then from:
• Dr Hannah Graham
  Senior Lecturer, Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology
  University of Stirling
• Professor Fergus McNeill
  Professor of Criminology and Social Work
  University of Glasgow
• Professor Lesley McAra
  Professor of Penology, Edinburgh Law School
  University of Edinburgh
2. Public Order Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
3. Priorities in the Justice Sector and an Action Plan
4. Virtual trials and charges for court transcripts
5. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)

This is all meetings of Criminal Justice Committee held in 2022. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

33rd Meeting

21 December

1. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Kevin Stewart
  Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care
  Scottish Government
• Anna Kynaston
  Deputy Director, National Care Service
  Scottish Government
• Catriona Dalrymple
  Deputy Director, Community Justice
  Scottish Government
2. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
3. Priorities in the Justice Sector and an Action Plan
4. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill (in private)

32nd Meeting

14 December

1. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Tracey McFall
  Member of Executive Committee
  Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum
• Lynne Thornhill
  Director of Justice Services
  Sacro
• Charlie Martin
  Stakeholder and Policy Lead
  The Wise Group
and then from:
• Rhoda MacLeod
  Head of Adult Services (Sexual Health, Police Custody & Prison Healthcare)
  Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership
• Sandra Cheyne
  National CIAG Policy & Professional Practice Lead
  Skills Development Scotland
• Gillian Booth
  Justice Service Manager
  South Lanarkshire Council
and then from:
• Keith Gardner
  CJS Specialist Adviser
  Community Justice Scotland
• Suzanne McGuinness
  Executive Director of Social Work
  Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
• Sharon Stirrat
  Justice Social Work Policy and Practice Lead
  Social Work Scotland
2. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)

31st Meeting

07 December

1. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Helen Nisbet
  Deputy Director for Defence, Security and Cyber Resilience
  Scottish Government
• Michael Sim
  Defence Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Nicholas Duffy
  Senior Principal Legal Officer
  Scottish Government
2. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
3. Policing and mental health
4. Correspondence
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

30th Meeting

24 November

29th Meeting

23 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Neil Rennick
  Director of Justice
  Scottish Government
• Donald McGillivray
  Director of Safer Communities
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Walter Drummond-Murray
  Head of Civil Courts, Inquiries, Private & International Law
  Scottish Government
• Emma Thomson
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Claire Wilson
  Lead Social Worker
  Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership
• Anil Gupta
  Chief Officer, Communities
  COSLA
• Lynsey Smith
  Chair of the Justice Standing Committee
  Social Work Scotland
• Kate Ramsden
  National Executive Member
  UNISON Scotland
6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)
7. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill

28th Meeting

09 November

1. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Wendy Sinclair-Gieben
  HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland
  HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland
2. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill
3. Correspondence
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)
5. Work programme (in private)

27th Meeting

02 November

1. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Eric McQueen
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• John Logue
  Interim Crown Agent
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
and then from:
• Teresa Medhurst
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Gerry O'Donnell
  Interim Director of Finance
  Scottish Prison Service
2. Correspondence
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)
4. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)

26th Meeting

26 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Elaine Hamilton
  Forensics Policy Team Leader, Police: Workforce, Equality and Forensics
  Scottish Government
• David Scott
  Policy Manager, Police: Workforce, Equality and Forensics
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Lynn Brown
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Police Authority
• David Page
  Deputy Chief Officer
  Police Scotland
• James Gray
  Chief Financial Officer
  Police Scotland
and then from:
• Ross Haggart
  Interim Chief Officer
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Stuart Stevens
  Interim Deputy Chief Officer
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• John Thomson
  Acting Director of Finance and Procurement
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
6. Correspondence
7. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

25th Meeting

05 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Correspondence
3. Policing and mental health

24th Meeting

21 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ash Regan
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Justin Haccius
  Unit Head, Access to Justice
  Scottish Government
• Martin Brown
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill (in private)
6. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill

23rd Meeting

07 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Correspondence
4. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

22nd Meeting

29 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
4. Work programme (in private)

21st Meeting

22 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Police numbers and the potential impact of new pension arrangements
3. Priorities in the Justice Sector and an Action Plan
4. Work programme (in private)

20th Meeting

15 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Draft Code of Practice
Show witnesses
• Dr Brian Plastow
  Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
3. Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Draft Code of Practice
4. Annual report
5. Business planning day
6. Work programme (in private)

19th Meeting

08 June

1. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill
2. Online Safety Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Patrick Down
  Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
3. Online Safety Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Justin Haccius
  Unit Head, Access to Justice
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation

18th Meeting

01 June

1. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ash Regan
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Philip Lamont
  Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Jamie MacQueen
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation

17th Meeting

25 May

1. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill

16th Meeting

18 May

1. Policing and mental health
Show witnesses
• Alan Staff
  Chief Executive
  Apex Scotland
• Dr Inga Heyman
  Associate Professor
  Edinburgh Napier University
• Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins
  ACC Local Policing North
  Police Scotland
• Superintendent Mairi Macinnes
  Criminal Justice Services Division
  Police Scotland
• Martyn Evans
  Chair
  Scottish Police Authority
• David Hamilton
  Chair
  Scottish Police Federation
2. Tackling online child abuse, grooming and exploitation
Show witnesses
• Gina Wilson
  Head of Strategy
  Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• Stuart Allardyce
  Director, Stop it Now! Scotland
  Lucy Faithfull Foundation
• Miles Bonfield
  Deputy Director Investigations North
  National Crime Agency
• Joanne Smith
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  NSPCC Scotland
• Assistant Chief Constable Bex Smith
  ACC Major Crime, Public Protection & Local Crime
  Police Scotland
• Alison Penman
  Child Protection Sub Group
  Social Work Scotland
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Proposed Bail and Release from Custody Bill
5. Work programme (in private)

15th Meeting

27 April

1. Final report of the Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland Working Group
Show witnesses
• Baroness Helena Kennedy QC
  Chair
  Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland Working Group
• Bill Brash
  Misogyny Working Group Team Leader
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill (in private)

14th Meeting

20 April

1. Priorities in the justice sector and an Action Plan
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill (in private)

13th Meeting

30 March

1. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Ash Regan
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Elinor Findlay
  Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• David Bell
  Pyrotechnics Policy Lead
  Scottish Government
• Natalie Stewart
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill (in private)

12th Meeting

23 March

1. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Fraser Stevenson
  Vice Chairman
  British Fireworks Association
• Andy Hubble
  Chairman
  British Pyrotechnists Association
• Norman Donald
  Owner
  NJE Fireworks Displays
2. Review of evidence (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)
4. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

11th Meeting

21 March

1. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Chief Inspector Nicola Robison
  Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing Division
  Police Scotland
• David MacKenzie
  Chair
  Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland
• Julie Whitelaw
  Interim Head of Housing, Customer and Building Services
  West Lothian Council
2. Review of evidence (in private)

10th Meeting

16 March

1. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Alasdair Hay
  Chair
  Fireworks Review Group
• Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens
  Director of Service Delivery
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• David Hamilton
  Chair
  Scottish Police Federation
and then from:
• Rob Holland
  Acting Director
  National Autistic Society Scotland
• Lorraine Gillies
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Community Safety Network
• Gilly Mendes-Ferreira
  Head of Education, Policy and Research
  Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Review of evidence (in private)
4. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

9th Meeting

09 March

1. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Kenny Donnelly
  Procurator Fiscal Policy and Engagement
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• David Fraser
  Executive Director Court Operations
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
and then from:
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Jeff Gibbons
  Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Steven MacGregor
  Cabinet, Parliament and Governance Division
  Scottish Government
• Jennifer Stoddart
  Community Justice Division
  Scottish Government
• Louise Miller
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Jo-anne Tinto
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Allister Purdie
  Interim Director of Operations
  Scottish Prison Service
• Jamie MacQueen
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Risk assessment in the justice system
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Catriona Dalrymple
  Deputy Director of Community Justice and Parole
  Scottish Government
4. Review of evidence (in private)

8th Meeting

02 March

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ash Regan
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Denise Swanson
  Interim Deputy Director Civil Law and Legal System
  Scottish Government
• Martin Brown
  Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Vicki Bell
  Member of the Criminal Law Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Stuart Murray
  Vice-President
  Scottish Solicitors Bar Association
5. Review of evidence (in private)

7th Meeting

23 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
and then from:
• Emma Jardine
  Policy and Public Affairs Adviser
  Howard League Scotland
• Teresa Medhurst
  Interim Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Allister Purdie
  Interim Director of Operations
  Scottish Prison Service
3. Photocopying of prisoners’ mail
4. Review of Evidence

6th Meeting

09 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
3. Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill
4. Review of evidence

5th Meeting

02 February

4th Meeting

01 February

3rd Meeting

26 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Public petitions
3. Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
4. Work programme

2nd Meeting

19 January

1. Subordinate legislation
2. Scottish Government response to the Committee’s pre-budget report
3. Work programme (in private)

1st Meeting

12 January

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Nicholas Duffy
  Solicitor, Branch Head - Criminal Justice, Police and Fire Division
  Scottish Government Legal Directorate
• Teresa Medhurst
  Interim Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Fiona Cruickshanks
  Head of Operations and Public Protection
  Scottish Prison Service
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation (in private)
4. Work programme (in private)

This is all meetings of Criminal Justice Committee held in 2021. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

15th Meeting

22 December

1. What now for the prosecution of violence against women and girls?
Show witnesses
• Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain QC
  Lord Advocate
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• David Harvie
  Crown Agent
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
2. What now for the prosecution of violence against women and girls? (in private)

14th Meeting

15 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. What now for the prosecution of violence against women and girls?
Show witnesses
• Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham
  Crime and Operational Support
  Police Scotland
• Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds
  Head of Public Protection, Specialist Crime Division
  Police Scotland
and then from:
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Willie Cowan
  Deputy Director, Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
3. Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and Judicial Review and Courts Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Alison Morris
  Head of Serious Organised Crime Policy – Divert and Deter
  Scottish Government
• Philip Lamont
  Criminal Justice Division
  Scottish Government
4. Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and Judicial Review and Courts Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
5. What now for the prosecution of violence against women and girls?
6. Roundtable evidence sessions (in private)

13th Meeting

08 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. What now for the prosecution of violence against women and girls?
Show witnesses
• David Fraser
  Executive Director Court Operations
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Danielle McLaughlin
  Head of the Lord Justice Clerk’s Review Implementation
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
3. What now for the prosecution of violence against women and girls?
4. Roundtable evidence sessions (in private)

12th Meeting

01 December

1. Roundtable evidence sessions (in private)
2. Work programme (in private)

11th Meeting

17 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
3. Roundtable evidence sessions

10th Meeting

10 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Neil Rennick
  Director of Justice
  Scottish Government
• Donald McGillivray
  Director of Safer Communities
  Scottish Government
3. Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
5. Work programme

9th Meeting

03 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Dorothy Bain QC
  Lord Advocate
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• David Harvie
  Crown Agent
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
and then from:
• Teresa Medhurst
  Interim Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Gerry O'Donnell
  Interim Director of Finance
  Scottish Prison Service
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

8th Meeting

27 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. The misuse of drugs and the criminal justice system
Show witnesses
• Anthony McGeehan
  Procurator Fiscal, Policy and Engagement
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Peter Krykant
  activist and campaigner
• Natalie Logan MacLean
  Chief Executive Officer
  Sustainable Interventions Supporting Change Outside (SISCO)
• Superintendent Norman Conway
  Police Scotland
• Leeanne Hughes
  Shine Programme Mentor
  Sacro
• Louise Stevenson
  Lived Experienced Participant
  Sacro
• Neil Richardson OBE
  Vice Chair
  Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce
• David Liddell
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Drugs Forum
• Becky Wood
  Lived/Living Experience Representative
  Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce
3. Work programme
4. The misuse of drugs and the criminal justice system

7th Meeting

06 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Deputy Chief Officer David Page
  Police Scotland
• James Gray
  Chief Financial Officer
  Police Scotland
• Chris Brown
  Acting Chief Executive and Accountable Officer
  Scottish Police Authority
and then from:
• Colin Lancaster
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Legal Aid Board
3. Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
4. Work programme
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

6th Meeting

29 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Legal aid
Show witnesses
• Gillian Fyfe
  Strategic Lead, Strong Communities
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Tony Lenehen
  President of Scottish Criminal Bar Association
  Faculty of Advocates
• Ian Moir
  Legal Aid Convenor
  Law Society of Scotland
• David Fraser
  Executive Director Court Operations
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Colin Lancaster
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Legal Aid Board
• Julia McPartlin
  President
  Scottish Solicitors Bar Association
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Professor Alan Paterson
  Professor of Law
  University of Strathclyde
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Tom Fox
  Head of Corporate Affairs
  Scottish Prison Service
• Jamie MacQueen
  Scottish Government Legal Directorate
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Post-legislative scrutiny - Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010
6. Legal aid

5th Meeting

22 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Priorities for domestic abuse, gendered-violence and sexual offences in session 6
Show witnesses
• Rabia Roshan
  Violence Against Women and Girls Development Worker
  Amina - the Muslim Women's Resource Centre
• Moira Price
  Procurator Fiscal Domestic Abuse
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Ronnie Renucci QC
  Vice Dean
  Faculty of Advocates
• Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds
  Head of Public Protection, Specialist Crime Division
  Police Scotland
• Sandy Brindley
  Chief Executive
  Rape Crisis Scotland
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Professor Michele Burman
  Professor of Criminology
  University of Glasgow
• Professor James Chalmers
  Regius Professor of Law
  University of Glasgow
3. Victims’ rights and victim support
Show witnesses
• Mary Glasgow
  Chief Executive
  Children 1st
• John Watt
  Chair
  Parole Board for Scotland
• Superintendent Colin Convery
  Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing
  Police Scotland
• Tim Barraclough
  Executive Director, Tribunals and Office of the Public Guardian 
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Teresa Medhurst
  Interim Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
• Sean Duffy
  Chief Executive Officer
  The Wise Group
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Evidence Sessions

4th Meeting

15 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ash Denham
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Susan Black
  Senior Policy Officer, Civil Law and Legal System Division
  Scottish Government
• Jo-anne Tinto
  Solicitor, Constitutional and Civil Law Division
  Scottish Government Legal Directorate
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Prisons and prison policy
Show witnesses
• Alan Staff
  Chief Executive
  Apex Scotland
• Bruce Adamson
  Children and Young People’s Commissioner
• Wendy Sinclair-Gieben
  HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland 
  HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland
• Dr Katrina Morrison
  Howard League Scotland Committee Secretary
  Howard League Scotland
• John Watt
  Chair
  Parole Board for Scotland
• Phil Fairlie
  Assistant General Secretary of the POA in Scotland
  Prison Officers Association
• Professor Fergus McNeill
  Professor of Criminology and Social Work, University of Glasgow
  Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research
• Teresa Medhurst
  Interim Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Allister Purdie
  Interim Director of Operations
  Scottish Prison Service
5. Reducing youth offending, offering community justice solutions and alternatives to custody
Show witnesses
• Fiona Dyer
  Interim Director
  Children’s and Young People’s Centre for Justice
• Gemma Fraser
  Senior Reporting Officer Recovery, Renewal & Transform
  Community Justice Scotland
• Ashley Cameron
  The Promise Scotland Oversight Board member
  The Care Review
• Superintendent Colin Convery
  Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing
  Police Scotland
• Diane Dobbie
  Justice Standing Committee
  Social Work Scotland
• Professor Lesley McAra
  University of Edinburgh
• Dr Hannah Graham
  Senior Lecturer in Criminology
  University of Stirling
• Niven Rennie
  Director
  Scottish Violence Reduction Unit
6. Evidence Sessions

3rd Meeting

08 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. COVID and the justice sector
Show witnesses
• Tony Lenehen
  President of Scottish Criminal Bar Association
  Faculty of Advocates
• Ken Dalling
  President
  Law Society of Scotland
• Assistant Chief Constable Kenny MacDonald
  Criminal Justice
  Police Scotland
• Chief Superintendent Barry Blair
  Criminal Justice Services Division
  Police Scotland
• Eric McQueen
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Chief Officer Martin Blunden
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Deputy Chief Officer Ross Haggart
  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Teresa Medhurst
  Interim Chief Executive
  Scottish Prison Service
• Tom Fox
  Head of Corporate Affairs
  Scottish Prison Service
• James Maybee
  Chair of Justice Standing Committee
  Social Work Scotland
• Kate Wallace
  Chief Executive Officer
  Victim Support Scotland
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
4. COVID and the justice sector

2nd Meeting

01 September

1. Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Graham Thomson
  Head of Police Powers and Workforce Unit
  Scottish Government
2. Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
3. Scottish Government priorities for the criminal justice remit in session 6
Show witnesses
• Keith Brown
  Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Ash Denham
  Minister for Community Safety
  Scottish Government
• Neil Rennick
  Director of Justice
  Scottish Government
• Donald McGillivray
  Director of Safer Communities
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
6. Decision on taking business in private
7. Scottish Government priorities for the criminal justice remit in session 6

1st Meeting

22 June