Minutes: 28 June 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 in private.

2. Responses to police officer and staff suicides:

The Committee took evidence from—

Stewart Carle, General Secretary, Association of Scottish Police Superintendents;

Andy Shanks, Deputy Procurator Fiscal, Specialist Casework and Head of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service;

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, Partnerships, Prevention & Community Wellbeing and Katy Miller, Director of People and Development, Police Scotland;

Fiona McQueen, Chair of the People Committee, Scottish Police Authority;

David Threadgold, Chair, Scottish Police Federation.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Early Expiry of Provisions) Regulations 2023

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

4. Responses to police officer and staff suicides (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

5. Tackling online child abuse, grooming and exploitation (In Private):

The Committee considered follow-up from the evidence session of 31 May 2023. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs.

6. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme.