The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 995 contributions
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
Over what period would that be?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
That is pretty stark, is it not? The committee has previously heard the projections on retirement numbers, given the pension changes. I take it that that is still on-going as well.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
Thank you very much; that is helpful.
DCC Connors, given what we have heard this morning, you must be concerned about the reputation of the Scottish police force. It is fair to say—I have said it in my 19-year career—that Scotland has had an exemplary force. We do things differently here, and there are many examples of that, including the 101 service. As the leadership of the police organisation, do you have concerns about that?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
Yes—probationers. Could that programme be compromised?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
Would it be possible for the committee to get some concrete examples of where that was going to happen? I realise that I have used up my time, but it would be helpful to know how that delivery is being rolled out.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
Good morning. We will not have time to answer all my questions, but I would like to put a marker down to say that you are going awfully fast with the reform, and I plead with you to give the committee some time to understand it. Like John Swinney, I support a lot of the reforms because we need to end the churn, but I have some concerns about some of the human rights issues that are attached to virtual elements. You might have heard me talk about the shambles of virtual custodies at Glasgow sheriff court. The sheriff said that herself, and I agreed with it.
I moved an amendment to some emergency Covid legislation that the Government accepted so that virtual custodies could not proceed, so I do not understand why your written submission says otherwise. Can you explain that to me? How can you proceed against the legislation?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
Can we have a further exchange on that? I moved an amendment, as part of Covid emergency legislation, against virtual custodies, because I can assure you that I saw a complete shambles. That is my concern about the reform. Is there going to be some further discussion about that?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
Well, I see what you mean when you put it like that, but what is the point if the court proceedings then last twice as long as they used to?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 13 September 2023
Pauline McNeill
You can understand why I was—
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 28 June 2023
Pauline McNeill
I am genuinely shocked that we are losing two members of the committee. I just want to endorse what Jamie said about how we have worked really closely together. I really valued the work that you both did. You will definitely be missed, because the legislation will be hard. I know that we will get two incredibly good new members, but there is no doubt that we will miss the continuity, because we have had some hard things to do. I wish colleagues the best for whatever committee you end up on.