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It is interesting that you have chosen that. From the start of our consideration of the bill, I have always seen it as something that we should have, because it should be enshrined. I presume that police officers are trained in such duties and that they are covered in recruitment processes. I have to say that I am unaware of any particular issues involving police officers not investigating; I have just seen the provision as something that we should have on the statute book. What you have said implies that you have had some problems with police officers, and I have never heard that.

Thank you. The convener will be happy.

Does that mean that someone decides the line between excessive force and assault before the complaint goes to the PIRC?

So, you would not look at a simple allegation of assault. You would just send it up to the PIRC.

In other words, some evidence that there was an assault.

What is the right point in time?

I am sorry—yes. She has had many jobs.

Is there a particular problem with police officers not attending?

However, there is no legal reason why someone cannot be told of a criminal allegation against them. Indeed, I asked the Lord Advocate about that last week when she gave evidence, because we had a specific case in front of us. I cannot remember the timescale involved, but the officer was not aware of the allegations for a considerable period of time. It was suggested that there might have been a legal reason for that, but, when I checked with the Lord Advocate last week, she said that there were no such legal reasons.

I think that it was the week before. We heard about a case that took quite a period of time, and, last week, I asked the Lord Advocate whether there was any specific legal reason for an officer not being told. The officer that we heard from was on restricted duties while they were waiting.