Agenda item 6 is feedback from the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing on its meeting of 9 November 2017. After we hear a verbal report from Mary Fee, there will be an opportunity for members to make brief comments, and I refer members to paper 7, which is a note by the clerk.
The Justice Sub-Committee met on 9 November 2017 for an evidence-taking session on the police service’s budget planning for 2018-19 in preparation for the publication of the Scottish Government’s draft 2018-19 budget in December.
The sub-committee took evidence from the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Police Federation; it heard about actions that were being taken by Police Scotland and the SPA to support financial planning and to develop three-year and 10-year financial plans; and it was informed that the Auditor General will publish a section 22 report again this year. The sub-committee was also told that more needs to be done to involve the unions and staff associations in discussions about budget priorities and future financial planning, and it heard about a reduction in custody capacity and the impact of the transfer of prisoners between custody centres.
The sub-committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 23 November, when it will take evidence on the progress of the independent investigations into Police Scotland’s counter-corruption unit.
I am happy to answer any questions.
Do members have any questions?
I simply make the brief point that, although the discussion was about the budget, very important information was also forthcoming on the issue of custody. I was keen for Police Scotland to give us a human rights assessment of the current arrangements. I understand that that assessment has been asked for, but the sub-committee needs to look deeper into the issue, as there are significant matters that need to be addressed.
Additional information was certainly requested—and will be received—on a number of issues that were raised.
As there are no more questions, I thank Mary Fee for that update.