Minutes: 05 June 2024

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 4 in private.

2. Emergency release of prisoners and other key challenges in Scotland’s prisons:

The Committee took evidence from—

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:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Sheriff (Removal from Office) Order 2024 (SSI 2024/148)

4. Emergency release of prisoners and other key challenges in Scotland’s prisons (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.