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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 23 November 2024
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Displaying 1639 contributions

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Criminal Justice Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 2 March 2022

Russell Findlay

We have a question from Audrey Nicoll, who is joining us remotely.

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

Sure. It is quite a specific thing. The exemption is for people who are subject to sex offender notification requirements. Does that mean that prisoners who have committed other sexual offences might not be exempt and could be released early? Do we know that?

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

I have a question for Teresa Medhurst on an issue that she touched on earlier. Many people would be concerned about a Government’s ability to release people early from prison. We have heard all sorts of evidence about what happened. You talked about mitigation in relation to prisoners who have been released. Given that it was a coronavirus public health requirement, were they all tested for Covid prior to their release?

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

Why is that happening? Is there suddenly a sense that victims are not protected and need that additional help?

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

We have heard that victims were not told about the emergency legislation on early release and you were inundated by requests for information. From what my colleague Jamie Greene said, we also know that 40 per cent of the people who were released went on to reoffend quite quickly. We do not know the details of that reoffending. It looks like there is a complete imbalance in the system, which has little regard for victims. However, I will get off my soapbox and ask a question.

The early release scheme should not apply to prisoners who are subject to sex offender notification requirements. However, I wonder whether the definition of people who have been convicted of sexual crimes is narrow and specific and whether the exemption could have been, and may yet be, used for prisoners who have been convicted of other crimes of a sexual nature in which the victims are primarily women and girls.

That question is open to either or both of the witnesses.

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

Have you had discussions with the Government about ensuring that testing would take place if early release was enacted again?

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

My question is for Emma Jardine and goes back to what you were talking about earlier. I appreciate your diplomatic language of euphemisms, using words such as “tensions” and so on. In relation to your concerns about the consultation process, in the letter that we have in front of us, you mention your

“concern that this may be more of an administrative, than a truly consultative exercise”.

Is that a one-off frustration, or is there a more general cultural issue with some Government agencies that you encounter?

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

I will add “administrative oversight” to the list of euphemisms. That was very helpful—thank you.

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

Yes, if she would like to add something, but I have another quick question that is perhaps more directed at her.

Criminal Justice Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 23 February 2022

Russell Findlay

This question is for Kate Wallace. It touches on the evidence mentioned earlier in respect of applications from victims for security assistance. Will you expand a bit on that? That is not why the fund was created; it was created to compensate people for what they had been through.