Minutes: 22 September 2021

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 5 in private.

2. Priorities for domestic abuse, gendered-violence and sexual offences in session 6:

The Committee took evidence in a round-table discussion from—

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 and Professor James Chalmers, Regius Professor of Law, University of Glasgow .

Rona Mackay indicated that she is Co-Convener of the Men's Violence Against Women And Children Cross-party Group.

3. Victims’ rights and victim support:

The Committee took evidence in a round-table discussion from—

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.

Russell Findlay indicated that he is a participant in the Victim Notification Scheme.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/282)

Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Rules 2021 (SSI 2021/289)

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2021.

The Committee also agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans, the Scottish Prison Service and HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland in relation to points raised by members on the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Rules 2021 and to reconsider the instrument at a future meeting.

5. Evidence Sessions (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda items 2 and 3.