Seòmar agus comataidhean

I thank you, your colleagues and Police Scotland for managing to do this at much shorter notice than is normal. It has been an incredibly helpful evidence session. I am glad that you have offered to come back to us if we have additional questions. I will reciprocate: if there is anything that would like to add that you could not add, please feel free to contact us.

Notwithstanding anything in the bill, there is already an assessment made of every individual whom a lead agency comes into contact with as to whether notification is the correct way to move forward, so there is work happening even before there is a legal requirement for notification, either because of the specific schedule or a decision of a judge, because of the content of why the individual is before them. Is that correct?

Some of the offences that lead to notification can occur in other parts of the United Kingdom and other countries. How does that work, in relation to the practicalities? If an offence is occasioned overseas, are you as satisfied as you can be that, if the notification criteria are met, the individual involved will come forward, notify properly and come within the system?

Good morning, and welcome to the 22nd meeting in 2024 of the Standards, Procedure and Public Appointments Committee. I have received no apologies this morning.

I want to welcome back a former member of the committee, in the form of Sue Webber MSP. Under agenda item 1, I ask her whether there are any relevant interests that she would like to declare.

Before we begin, I would like to express our thanks to you and your colleagues for your assistance with our evidence taking today. The notice that we gave you was much shorter than what we would normally provide, and your assistance in the matter is deeply appreciated, given the timetabling of the bill.

The purpose of our evidence taking today is to allow the committee to understand a little bit more the operation of the sex offender notification requirements—or SONR—orders under part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and other related orders, in connection with proposed amendments to the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill. It is proposed that individuals subject to such orders would be disqualified from being a candidate or from continuing to hold elected office as a local authority councillor in Scotland or, indeed, as an MSP. The committee has previously expressed its support in principle for such a provision, but we want to ensure that we have a proper understanding of these orders in advance of stage 2 proceedings on this bill.

If it is all right with you, DCI Chisholm, I will invite the committee to put some questions to you on the matter. However, I will exercise my privilege as convener and go first, if that is all right. If you require any further explanation of what our questions mean or, indeed, if you would like the opportunity to consider your answers further and write to us later, I am more than happy for that to happen, given the relatively short notice that you have had and, more importantly, given the significance of this aspect with regard to the bill.

Just to kick off, can you explain the role of Police Scotland and, as I understand it, chief inspectors in relation to the sex offender notification requirements? What happens on a day-to-day basis? Who has responsibility for this matter, and what sorts of orders and individuals do you deal with?

That is excellent—thank you. Once again, welcome back.

I hope that the committee is content for me to write to Oliver Mundell MSP to express both my thanks and the committee’s thanks for his work while he was on the committee.

Agenda item 2 is a decision on taking business in private. Does the committee agree to take in private item 4, which is consideration of applications for the role of committee adviser in connection with our inquiry into committee effectiveness, and item 5, which is further consideration of the recommendations of the gender-sensitive audit?

Members indicated agreement.

I am grateful.

That brings us to the substantive part of today’s meeting: agenda item 3, which is an evidence-taking session on the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill. I welcome to the meeting Detective Chief Inspector Craig Chisholm of Police Scotland. Good morning, detective chief inspector.

Yes, that makes sense. Thank you for that. I see a wonderful letter going to the Scottish Government.