Minutes: 22 September 2021

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 5 in private.

2. Priorities for domestic abuse, gendered-violence and sexual offences in session 6:

The Committee took evidence in a round-table discussion from—

Rabia Roshan, Violence Against Women and Girls Development Worker, Amina - the Muslim Women's Resource Centre;

Moira Price, Procurator Fiscal Domestic Abuse, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service;

Ronnie Renucci QC, Vice Dean, Faculty of Advocates;

Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds, Head of Public Protection, Specialist Crime Division, Police Scotland;

Sandy Brindley, Chief Executive, Rape Crisis Scotland;

Dr Marsha Scott, Chief Executive, Scottish Women's Aid;

Professor Michele Burman, Professor of Criminology and Professor James Chalmers, Regius Professor of Law, University of Glasgow .

3. Victims’ rights and victim support:

The Committee took evidence in a round-table discussion from—

Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive, Children 1st;

John Watt, Chair, Parole Board for Scotland;

Superintendent Colin Convery, Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing, Police Scotland;

Tim Barraclough, Executive Director, Tribunals and Office of the Public Guardian, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service;

Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive, Scottish Prison Service;

Kate Wallace, Chief Executive Officer, Victim Support Scotland;

Sean Duffy, Chief Executive Officer, The Wise Group.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/282)

Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Rules 2021 (SSI 2021/289)

5. Evidence Sessions (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda items 2 and 3.