Minutes: 22 January 2025

1. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 [draft] from—

Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Scottish Government.

2. Subordinate legislation:

Angela Constance (Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs) moved—

S6M-15946—That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (SS1 2024/377)

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

4. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Simon Brown, President, Scottish Solicitors Bar Association;

Paul Smith, President, Edinburgh Bar Association;

Stuart Munro, Criminal Law Committee Convener, Law Society of Scotland;

and then from—

Kate Wallace, Chief Executive Officer, Victim Support Scotland;

Adam Stachura, Associate Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs, Age Scotland.

Liam Kerr declared an interest as a practising solicitor but indicated he does not do criminal law. Ben Macpherson indicated that he is registered with the Law Society of Scotland's roll of Scottish solicitors.

5. Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 4.