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 907 contributions
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 January 2025
Rona Mackay
That is helpful. Thank you.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 January 2025
Rona Mackay
I understand that. What you are saying is that, possibly, a bigger emphasis should be put on the evidence base and that the advice that the Scottish Government gives to the review bodies should perhaps be more targeted in order to get the ethos over.
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 January 2025
Rona Mackay
You put that very powerfully. We are running out of time, but I will ask another quick question. Section 25 of the bill proposes that the Scottish Government should issue written guidance on how review bodies should carry out their functions. What do you think of that, and do you have any views on what should be included in that guidance?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 January 2025
Rona Mackay
Good morning. Emma, you have answered most of the questions that I was going to ask you, but, given your vast experience in domestic abuse crimes and your commitment to that subject, I want to clarify some things. I heard and understood what you said about the bill being widened to extend the definition. Do you think that, as it stands, the bill dilutes the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 January 2025
Rona Mackay
No, I think that we have explored that. I have a question for Neil Websdale, on a different topic.
It is proposed that the Scottish Government give guidance for the review bodies on how to carry out their functions and so on. What key points should be included in that?
Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting date: 29 January 2025
Rona Mackay
Laura Buchan, do you want to comment on any of that?
Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 January 2025
Rona Mackay
Good morning. You have clearly outlined your concerns about virtual custody courts, and I understand them. Is there scope for the use of virtual custody courts in particular cases? If each case were considered on its merits, would that be possible? I am thinking particularly of domestic abuse cases, because I know that third sector organisations, for example, very much favour virtual courts for those. Could a pilot be run to see whether that would work at all stages of a domestic abuse case?
Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 January 2025
Rona Mackay
That is really helpful. Thank you. In other words, if the current pilot is successful, there may be ways of overcoming the difficulties that you described, to roll it out to other areas.
Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 January 2025
Rona Mackay
Simon Brown, do you have any thoughts on the matter?
Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 22 January 2025
Rona Mackay
Thank you.