Criminal Justice Committee
Meeting Minutes
22nd Meeting, 2023
- Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023
- Session: 6
- Location: T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room
- Meeting opened at: 10:00
- Meeting closed at: 12:09
- Published: Thursday, September 21, 2023 09:33am
1 Declaration of interests:
Sharon Dowey was invited to declare any relevant interests. Ms Dowey indicated that her husband is a retired police officer. In relation to agenda item 7, the Convener indicated that she is a former police officer.
2 Decision on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to take items 6 and 7 in private.
3 Deaths in custody:
The Committee took evidence from—
Gill Imery, Chair, Deaths in Custody Review Group.
4 Post-legislative scrutiny review of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018:
The Committee considered the Scottish Government's response to its report. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and seek updates from witnesses who gave evidence during its inquiry.
5 Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022:
The Committee considered correspondence from the Scottish Government on Part 5 - Pyrotechnic Possession Offences. The Committee noted the work the Government plans to undertake to investigate the potential for expanding the conditions in which Football Banning Orders could be made with regard to this issue. The Committee agreed to await the outcomes of this work and consider them in due course.
6 Deaths in custody (In Private):
The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care. The Committee also agreed to write to the Scottish Prison Service, the NHS and HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland.
7 Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill (In Private):
The Committee agreed its approach to a call for views on the Bill at Stage 1. The Committee also agreed to hold a discussion, in private, at the end of each meeting on the oral evidence heard, to consider any further approaches to the scrutiny of the Bill, and all draft reports on the Bill in private and under Standing Order Rule 12.4.3, to delegate to the Convener responsibility for arranging to pay expenses to witnesses which may arise under the SPCB witness expense scheme.