Criminal Justice Committee
14th Meeting, 2022
The Committee considered progress on implementing the recommendations in the Committee’s report on the priorities for the criminal justice sector in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Prison Service, the Parole Board for Scotland and other relevant bodies. The Committee also agreed to write to the Lord President on the issue of fees for accessing court papers.
The Committee considered the following negative instruments—
Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (Freezing Order) (EU Exit) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/95)
Firemen’s Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2022 (SSI 2022/79)
Police Pensions (Commutation) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/80)
Police Pensions (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/101)
Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/103)
In relation to SSI 2022/95, the Committee agreed with the DPLR Committee that the use of the negative procedure is appropriate and that the Scottish Government is correct to assess this instrument as being of low significance for the reason that the instrument contains minor and technical changes and relates to continuity of law without any change to policy. The Committee had no further comments to make.
Audrey Nicoll indicated that she is a former police officer with Grampian Police and Police Scotland.
In relation to SSI 2022/80, the Committee agreed to seek further information from Police Scotland on the possible impacts the instrument will have on police numbers and the measures being taken to address this. The Committee had no further comments to make.
The Committee had no comments to make on the remaining instruments.
The Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report. Various changes were agreed to, and the Committee agreed to consider a revised draft, in private, at its next meeting.