Seòmar agus comataidhean

Does anyone else want to comment?

Good morning, panel, and thank you so much for your opening statements.

Much of last week’s discussion was on illegal trafficking and exploitation, which have been mentioned today, too. My question is in two parts. First, what role does Police Scotland play alongside the third sector? Secondly, since Police Scotland began 10 years ago, 140 police stations and a lot of community policing have been cut. What impact has that had on reducing community tensions as well as rooting out illegal trafficking and slavery?

Perhaps I can come back to the question. Are you saying that community policing and police services are adequate for what you need at the moment?

Are you saying that there is nothing in place? We have seen what happened in Erskine. Have third sector organisations or organisations such as those that are represented here today put nothing in place because it does not work? Is that what you are saying?

Earlier, mention was made of the third sector not being funded properly. What kind of resources need to be in place and distributed so that the third sector can be ready to deal with asylum seekers coming here and to help with integration and everything else that we have spoken about? What sort of plan or framework should be in place to support the third sector? That question is for Annika Joy, because she spoke about the third sector.

Shall I ask my final question?

Phil, is there anything that you would like to quickly add?

Andy wants to say something. You had better say it in a sentence, otherwise the convener—

Does anybody else want to answer that question?

I thank the witnesses for their opening statements. Following on from the discussion about hotel usage, my question is about the source of tension in the community. It touches on what was said earlier. We all saw what happened in Erskine. When asylum seekers are in hotels, what are organisations doing to help to integrate them into communities? What sort of work is being done? I will direct my question to Graham O’Neill, who touched on the issue, and Andy Sirel.