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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 13 August 2025
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Displaying 1131 contributions

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Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Meeting date: 30 June 2022

Rona Mackay

I have nothing to declare.

Criminal Justice Committee

Police Numbers and New Pension Arrangements

Meeting date: 22 June 2022

Rona Mackay

We know that this is not the first time that Police Scotland and the federation have had differing opinions. That is a regular occurrence.

The reality is that 440 of the 735 officers who have retired or are about to retire have 25 to 29 years’ service. They are perfectly entitled to retire. That is the situation; it is just the demographic. There is nothing that we can do to stop that because it is their right. Police Scotland says that it will try to recruit more than 300 probationers a quarter—I am sure that it will make every attempt to do that—and consider opportunities for transfer from across police forces so that people who do different functions could come into Police Scotland.

That is happening not only in Police Scotland but in many public services, such as the health service. We are at the point at which a lot of people with a lot of service are retiring. That is just the reality of the situation. I appreciate the concerns that members have expressed, but we should not hit the panic button, because Police Scotland will sort the matter out. People are perfectly entitled to take their pensions when they have done that length of service, and I do not think that anybody would deny them that.

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Draft Code of Practice

Meeting date: 15 June 2022

Rona Mackay

You have kind of answered my next question. If you are dealing only with police and criminal justice matters, they will know the rules, so it might be a bit quiet—the chances of your being swamped with stuff may not be that high. However, in a case where something has happened and it is found that the code has been broken, what is the penalty? Is there a penalty?

11:30  

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Draft Code of Practice

Meeting date: 15 June 2022

Rona Mackay

Are you saying that Police Scotland has not used live facial recognition technology?

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Draft Code of Practice

Meeting date: 15 June 2022

Rona Mackay

I apologise if you have covered this and I have missed it, Dr Plastow, but I want to ask about your role. Do you rely on reports coming in to you about people who have or have not broken the code of practice, or do you proactively investigate things?

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Draft Code of Practice

Meeting date: 15 June 2022

Rona Mackay

My next question is on something that I know that you have already talked about and which is in the code of practice, but I would like an answer to go on the record. Can you please set out, in broad terms, the specific legislation to which the code will apply?

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Draft Code of Practice

Meeting date: 15 June 2022

Rona Mackay

Is that an operational decision? Does Police Scotland have the capacity to do that, or have the police just decided not to?

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Draft Code of Practice

Meeting date: 15 June 2022

Rona Mackay

Thank you—that was very helpful.

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Draft Code of Practice

Meeting date: 15 June 2022

Rona Mackay

But how do you envisage that that will take place?

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Draft Code of Practice

Meeting date: 15 June 2022

Rona Mackay

Thank you. Finally—and you might not be able to answer this question—have you had any indication of when to expect the code of practice to be approved by ministers?