Seòmar agus comataidhean

That completes our final business in public for the year. I wish this morning’s witnesses, members, Parliament staff, police officers and staff, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and everyone who works in the justice sector a happy and peaceful festive season.

My final question is about timescales. Some reform can move relatively quickly, but other reform takes longer. What are your broad timescales for the priority areas of reform that you are seeking to deliver?

Rona Mackay, you wanted to come in on that.

Thank you for that comprehensive overview. We do not have time to follow up on that this morning but, for me, one of the issues is the ability of officers to transfer the care of a person elsewhere. Nine times out of 10, that will be to health and social care services. I am very interested in what level of engagement health and social care has participated in with Police Scotland, because I see that as being absolutely key, but I am sure that we will come back to that further down the line.

I will bring in a couple of members for some brief supplementary questions, after which I will have to bring the session to a close.

We will have a very final quick question from Russell Findlay.

Good morning, and welcome to the 35th and final meeting in 2023 of the Criminal Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Pauline McNeill.

Our main item of business is to take evidence from the chief constable of Police Scotland, Jo Farrell, on her vision and priorities for Police Scotland. I welcome the chief constable, who is joined by Jane Connors, deputy chief constable for crime and operational support, and James Gray, chief financial officer of Police Scotland.

I refer members to papers 1 and 2. I intend to allow up to 90 minutes for this session.

I invite the chief constable to make a short opening statement.

That brings me to my next question, which is about remodelling and the reform agenda within the context of the overall justice system. What, if any, are the challenges in delivering on your review of the policing model while bearing in mind that you are one part of a broader justice system?

Yes, of course.

Yes.

We are over time. I will come in, if I may, with a final question for Stuart Munro, and then we will draw the session to a close. The question is about the survey of members that was undertaken by the Law Society. It is my understanding that more than 70 per cent of members who responded believed that the not proven verdict should be retained. Will you expand a little on the survey and the results, including the minority view, which obviously consisted of around 30 per cent?