Chamber and committees

Thanks very much, chief inspector. That is a helpful overview. Would Russell Findlay like to come back in on that update from Nicola Robison?

I am sure that we will come back to the point about firework control zones. I thank all the witnesses for their responses.

I have a follow-up question to ask Nicola Robison a wee bit about offences, and then I will hand over to Katy Clark and Rona Mackay.

Police Scotland’s submission touches on section 7, which is about relevant offences. Comments in the submission suggest that Police Scotland would find it helpful

“to have a wider list of offences to include the likes of Wilful Fireraising or Culpable and Reckless Fireraising in order to promote a more positive impact on community safety and wellbeing.”

It would probably be helpful to hear a wee bit more about the rationale for that widening.

We will move to questions about the licensing scheme. I will start with Rona Mackay and then bring in Pauline McNeill for a supplementary question.

I will bring in Jamie Greene.

That is great. Thank you for being nice and succinct—that is really helpful.

Thank you, Fulton. Russell Findlay wants to come in.

I will pick up quickly on the questions that Katy Clark asked about importing fireworks—from, say, south of the border. Do any panellists have views on the risk of that being linked with stockpiling ahead of bonfire night, for example? We have had a bit of evidence on that potential risk. I ask Chief Inspector Robison for any comments, and then I will come back to David MacKenzie.

I will bring in Katy Clark, who has a question about imports.

I would like to keep things moving. We are just about at half past 3 but, if I may, I would like to carry on for another 10 minutes or so. It is important that we consider some more questions, in particular on pyrotechnics. I will bring in Russell Findlay on that.

However, before I do so, I have a question for Chief Inspector Robison in relation to our visit to Blackburn last week. Members of the Blackburn bonfire night action group raised with us their experience of promoting use of the Crimestoppers line as an option for community members to report issues with illegal fireworks anonymously, if they were worried about being identified. I am interested in your thoughts on community messaging as an option for when people want to report but they are a bit anxious about doing so.

David or Julie, would you like to come in on that?