Justice 2 Committee calls for evidence at Stage 1 of the
Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill

CJ2003/2005 | 3 October 2005

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice 2 Committee is seeking views on the general principles of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill was introduced in the Parliament on 30 September 2005 and the Justice 2 Committee has been designated lead committee for the Bill.

The main purposes of the Bill are to reform the structure and organisation of police services in Scotland, to modify a number of police powers, to protect the public from dangers associated with the holding of events, or the possession of dangerous items such as fireworks or knives; and to provide for the enforcement of the criminal law.

Specifically the Bill will provide for:

• the establishment of a new Scottish Police Services Authority to maintain the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and provide the common police services;
• the establishment of a new independent Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland;
• the introduction of football banning orders;
• reform of the law on public processions;
• amendments to the law on knives and offensive weapons;
• police powers of search and arrest in relation to fireworks possession offences;
• police powers to require individuals to give their date and place of birth;
• police powers to take fingerprints to establish identity;
• the introduction of mandatory drug testing and referral for certain arrested persons;
• the introduction of a system of statutory incentives for providing evidence for use against others;
• an allowance to be made to special constables in respect of services given;
• Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to recruit more widely; and
• minor tidying up amendments to Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

The Committee is interested to hear the views of organisations and individuals on the provisions of the Bill and on the likely impacts of the proposed measures. The Committee would also be interested in hearing about any specific issues it is felt are not adequately addressed in the Bill.

The closing date for written submissions is Tuesday 8 November 2005.

The Committee expects to take oral evidence on the Bill on Tuesday 25 October, 1, 8, 14, 22 and 29 November. The Committee will consider the written evidence it has received on 14 November and respondents may therefore be invited to give evidence to the Committee at short notice. If you are invited to give evidence to the Committee on the basis of your written submission it is most likely to be on 29 November.

Written submissions should be typewritten, short and concise (a maximum of 3-4 pages). It would be helpful if it could be submitted in electronic form by e-mail but postal submissions will be accepted.

Any evidence received will be published by the Parliament and will be treated as a public document unless indicated otherwise.

Evidence should be submitted to—

The Clerk to the Justice 2 Committee
Room T3.60
Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Email: justice.committee@scottish.parliament.uk

Background notes

The Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill is published as SP Bill 46 and is available from the Stationery Office and on the Parliament’s website.

Explanatory Notes (and the Executive’s and Presiding Officer’s statements on legislative competence) are published separately as SP Bill 46-EN. A Policy Memorandum is also published separately as SP Bill 46 -PM.

For information on the legislative process, you may wish to consult the Guidance on Public Bills which is also available on the website.

The Scottish Executive published Supporting Police, Protecting Communities: Proposals for Legislation in February 2005. This Bill brings forward those proposals.

The contact for members of the media is:

For further information, the media contact is:
Richard Holligan: 0131 348 5605
email: richard.holligan@scottish.parliament.uk

Justice 2 Committee contact information

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk