Minutes: 04 March 2026

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 7 and 8 in private.

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

The Committee took evidence from—

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

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took 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;

Linda Pollock, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Prison Service.

4. Subordinate legislation:

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

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

The motion was agreed to (by division: For 4; Against 4; Abstentions 0). The motion was agreed to on the casting vote of the Convener.

5. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Police Service of Scotland (Vetting) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/46)

Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/58)

Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Duty to Notify) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/60)

Parole Board (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2026 (SSI 2026/82)

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the Police Service of Scotland (Vetting) Regulations 2026 to its next meeting. The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the other instruments.

Audrey Nicoll declared an interest in relation to the Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 as a former police officer with Police Scotland.

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

The Committee took take evidence from—

Robert Scott, Chief Inspector, HM Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland;

and then from—

Laura Paton, Commissioner and Phillip Chapman, Director of Operations, Police Investigations & Review Commissioner.

7. Consideration of evidence:

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the evidence heard earlier in the meeting. 

8. Annual report:

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the draft annual report.