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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Criminal Justice Committee


Agenda: 04 March 2026

Wednesday, 04 March 2026

9th Meeting, 2026

Start time: 09:00am
Location: T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room
Agenda items:

  1. Decision on taking business in private
  2. Reflections on the budget proposed for 2026-27 and Scottish Spending Review
  3. Subordinate legislation
  4. Subordinate legislation
  5. Subordinate legislation
  6. State of the criminal justice system and challenges for session 7
  7. Consideration of evidence
  8. Annual report

Agenda published: Monday, 02 March 2026 10:02am

Full agenda and available meeting papers


1. Decision on taking business in private

The Committee will decide whether to take items 7 and 8 in private.


2. Reflections on the budget proposed for 2026-27 and Scottish Spending Review

The Committee will take evidence from—

  • Chief Constable Jo Farrell KPM
    Police Scotland
  • Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs
    Professionalism and Enabling Services
    Police Scotland
  • Sarah Roughead
    Chief Financial Officer
    Police Scotland

Papers for this item:

1 private paper will be discussed during this agenda item


3. Subordinate legislation

The Committee will take evidence on the Prisoners (Early Release) (Miscellaneous Amendment and Transitional Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] from—

  • Angela Constance
    Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
    Scottish Government
  • Claire Martin
    Prison Population Team Leader
    Scottish Government
  • Ruth Swanson
    Solicitor, Legal Directorate
    Scottish Government
  • Linda Pollock
    Deputy Chief Executive
    Scottish Prison Service

Papers for this item:


4. Subordinate legislation

Angela Constance (Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs) to move—

S6M-20793—That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the Prisoners (Early Release) (Miscellaneous Amendment and Transitional Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.



6. State of the criminal justice system and challenges for session 7

The Committee will take evidence from—

  • Robert Scott
    Chief Inspector
    HM Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland
  • and then from:

  • Laura Paton
    Commissioner
    Police Investigations & Review Commissioner
  • Phillip Chapman
    Director of Operations
    Police Investigations & Review Commissioner

Papers for this item:


7. Consideration of evidence

The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda items 2 and 6.


8. Annual report

The Committee will consider a draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 13 May 2025 to 8 April 2026.

Papers for this item:

1 private paper will be discussed during this agenda item