Chamber and committees

What about fairness for the officer and their right to defend themselves?

So you would have an open-ended time limit.

You do not think that there should be a time limit at all.

Good morning. I want to explore the issue of pursuing police officers for gross misconduct within a period of 12 months after they have resigned.

In answer to one of my colleagues, you cited the case of Wayne Couzens. However, the issue with that case was that his previous conduct had not been picked up during the recruitment and vetting procedures, and that seems to be the major take-home message from such a case. That seems to indicate that having the 12-month period in that case would not have helped to resolve anything. I know that that was a very unusual and dreadful example but it is the one that you used.

That makes sense. Thank you.

My final question might be more difficult to answer. We are wrestling with who does what and the complexities of the interactions between different authorities. The bill’s whole purpose is to simplify the system for the public, but what differences will the public see as a result? Are some parts of it worth highlighting to the public?

It is interesting that you have chosen that. From the start of our consideration of the bill, I have always seen it as something that we should have, because it should be enshrined. I presume that police officers are trained in such duties and that they are covered in recruitment processes. I have to say that I am unaware of any particular issues involving police officers not investigating; I have just seen the provision as something that we should have on the statute book. What you have said implies that you have had some problems with police officers, and I have never heard that.

Thank you. The convener will be happy.

Does that mean that someone decides the line between excessive force and assault before the complaint goes to the PIRC?

So, you would not look at a simple allegation of assault. You would just send it up to the PIRC.

In other words, some evidence that there was an assault.