Chamber and committees

I call Katy Clark.

Thank you, Dr Plastow. That was a very helpful overview of and introduction to the code of practice in its current form.

You said that the meat of the draft code of practice is structured around 12 guiding principles and ethical considerations to which Police Scotland, the PIRC and the SPA must adhere when they acquire, retain, use or destroy biometric data. Will you expand on how those principles and considerations were developed and how they were identified as being appropriate to the code of practice?

There is a lot of interest in this particular line of questioning. I will bring in Russell Findlay and then Pauline McNeill.

In that case, I call Collette Stevenson.

Picking up on your comment that Police Scotland has indicated that it has no plans to introduce facial recognition at the moment, I note that you said that you are also the commissioner for Police Scotland. What would be your role if it changed its position on using or not using a specific biometric data collection method such as facial recognition? Would you have a role in supporting it, or is your role more about regulation?

Good morning, and welcome to the 20th meeting in 2022 of the Criminal Justice Committee. No apologies have been received.

Under agenda item 1, do we agree to take items 3, 4 and 5 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, Dr Plastow. I bring the session to a close. That was a fascinating and important discussion, with a lot for us to think about, and we will certainly write to you with any follow-up questions that members have. We look forward to the publication of your annual report this summer.

Apologies for my conferring with the clerk. I am just ensuring that I bring everyone in and that we cover as many themes as we can.

Would Jamie Greene like to come in at this point?

Thank you for that really interesting response.

I open the questioning up to other committee members, starting with Katy Clark.

Thanks very much. That was helpful.

Russell Findlay has a question on the voluntary provision of biometric data.