Chamber and committees

I will have to come in and draw things to a close. We are running slightly over time. I know that we could probably sit here for the rest of the morning.

Thank you very much indeed.

Maggie, I will open with a general question about the police complaints system. What do you think should be changed about the system, based on your experience?

I want to ask you about the proposals for a duty of candour for Police Scotland. A duty of candour for officers and staff relates to their being truthful, candid and co-operative in proceedings. Do you think that the proposal is sufficient for you to have confidence that police officers will co-operate with investigations, including those carried out against or in relation to other officers?

Another provision in the bill is for a code of ethics. Do you feel that such a provision, which would place a legal obligation on Police Scotland to create a specific code of ethics, would give you more confidence in the behaviour of officers? Should there be specific sanctions for a breach of the code of ethics?

Thanks for that. Russell Findlay has a question.

With regard to misconduct procedures in the context of former police officers, do you agree that it should be possible for misconduct procedures to commence and continue against former police officers for allegations that, if they were proved, would amount to gross misconduct? Should the procedures relate only to gross misconduct?

Thanks for that. You think that it should not be time limited, is that right?

Thank you for joining us this morning, Maggie. It has been really valuable to hear from you, and we are grateful for your time.

Stephanie, thank you very much for such comprehensive opening remarks, which set the scene for us very helpfully and openly.

I will ask you about how important it has been to have a representative support you through your journey. I am perhaps slightly straying away from the provisions of the bill, but that was a very important aspect of your journey. Can you outline a little more how important it was to have that support there by your side?

Thank you. That came through loud and clear in your opening remarks.

Before I bring in other members, I will touch on the delays and the timescales that you have experienced since your son was discovered. How difficult have those timescales been for you? When we are looking at the bill, what should we consider about how that aspect of a police inquiry or review can be improved?