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)

The Committee had no comments to make on the instrument. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, setting out some observations about the process.  

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.