I welcome this early opportunity to update Parliament on policing in Scotland.
Our police officers and those who work to support them continue to do an excellent job in challenging circumstances, and I pay tribute to them again—all the men and women within Police Scotland who work day in, day out to protect our communities.
Crime is at a 40-year low, with violent crime at its lowest level since 1974, and there is now more consistent access to specialist expertise and equipment across the country. Credit for this goes to the officers and staff across Police Scotland.
We were all shocked and saddened by the terrible incident that claimed the lives of Lamara Bell and John Yuill. Our thoughts continue to be with their families and friends.
Police Scotland has publicly apologised and, on behalf of this Government, I repeat my sympathies. I also apologise to the families for the loss of their loved ones. We are truly sorry for what has happened.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner is carrying out an independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and it is a live and on-going investigation.
The remit of the review by Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary in Scotland that I instructed was to provide an accurate picture of the current capacity and capability within all control centres—both staff and systems—and the processes in place to ensure that all calls are handled and dispatched appropriately.
HMICS recommends that the reform programme for the control centres is completed as planned. However, it makes it clear that that should take place only when the current control rooms in Govan and Bilston Glen have a full complement of trained staff and when the systems and processes are capable of taking additional call demand from the north, when the new area control room in Dundee is fully operational, and after a detailed and independently assured transition plan is developed and delivered.
HMICS recommends that centres in Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness should remain open while that takes place. That is what will now happen. The remaining phase will proceed only once the Scottish Police Authority and HMICS are completely reassured that all the issues have been addressed.
Police Scotland states that the recommendation will require the accelerated recruitment of 70 to 75 call-handling staff to consolidate service centre operations, plus additional area control room staff to ensure that the combined north area control room in Dundee is fully operational before the closure of the Aberdeen and Inverness control rooms. It will also require the retention of staff in Aberdeen and Inverness for a period beyond 31 March 2016 to allow for an extensive handover of operations. This will, of course, be subject to discussion with unions and staff.
There is a cost attached to implementing the recommendation, estimated by Police Scotland at around £1.4 million in this financial year. I can confirm to the Parliament today that I am making £1.4 million of new money available immediately for Police Scotland to meet this cost.
The remaining phases of the change programme will be subject to regular and intensive scrutiny by both the SPA and HMICS. I have asked HMICS to ensure that any further recommendations on the operation of call handling are shared as the review progresses to allow the SPA and Police Scotland to act as quickly as possible.
The M9 incident had terrible consequences. I do not want any family to go through such an experience again.
We will also take early action on stop and search. In March, I asked John Scott, the eminent human rights Queen’s counsel, to consider the legal framework around stop and search. His independent advisory group has reported, and I published its report today.
The group recommends that a statutory code of practice underpins how stop and search is used. We will implement in full the recommendations. I therefore confirm that the current system of consensual stop and search will end once the code comes into effect. I have informed the Justice Committee’s convener that I intend to lodge appropriate amendments to the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 to give effect to that.
There are two further areas where investigations are on-going, and I will update Parliament on the progress of those investigations as much as I can.
The PIRC investigation, under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, into the death of Sheku Bayoh in police custody is well advanced. Members will recognise that I am constrained in what I can say. However, my thoughts are with Mr Bayoh’s family at this terrible time.
As the PIRC emphasised earlier today, a number of expert forensic pathologists have been commissioned, on the instruction of the Lord Advocate, to further investigate and to provide an opinion on how Mr Bayoh died. The Lord Advocate and the PIRC have met the family and are committed to keeping them informed of the progress of their on-going investigation.
Media interest over the summer has also focused on reported breaches of the code of practice on the acquisition and disclosure of communications data, which came into force on 25 March this year. A final determination by the interception of communications commissioner is awaited. The Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office—IOCCO—has made clear that it would be inappropriate for it to identify the forces under investigation while its investigation is on-going, and it has set out clear reasoning for that position.
In light of that investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further, other than to say that ministers expect all public authorities to comply with the code of practice on accessing communications data. The press must be able to operate freely, with appropriate protections, and no individual should have their communications data improperly accessed.
Policing in Scotland has gone through the most significant public sector reform in a generation. Although there have been challenges, the creation of Police Scotland has allowed us to maintain officer numbers 1,000 higher than they were in 2007. That should be compared with the situation south of the border, where policing numbers were this week predicted to fall to their lowest level in 40 years.
National units are ensuring a consistent approach to the most complex and time-consuming issues, such as serious and organised crime, rape and murder. Those hard-fought gains would not have been achieved without the reform of policing in Scotland.
On Tuesday, the First Minister set out in the programme for government the next steps that this Government will take to strengthen policing. I will provide Parliament with further detail on how those issues will be taken forward.
Reform has increased scrutiny. With 32 local scrutiny boards, there are more councillors than ever before having a say on policing priorities in their area. As Parliament will recall, to ensure that the day-to-day operation of the police is entirely independent of Government, Police Scotland is accountable to the SPA, which in turn is accountable to this Government, with the Parliament’s Justice Sub-Committee on Policing providing regular and active challenge. There is independent oversight from HMICS and the PIRC, as well as from Audit Scotland.
Police Scotland has faced greater levels of political, public and media scrutiny than ever before, but I believe that we can strengthen it further. The chief constable will therefore undertake a new programme of scrutiny sessions, to provide more direct local accountability for the performance of policing in local areas. The approach will give local councillors the opportunity to discuss policing in their areas directly with the chief constable, senior officers and members of the SPA.
I want to explore further with local conveners how the approach will work, at the local scrutiny summit that I will hold on 23 September. There will be an open dialogue, and I will welcome contributions from members of all parties on how local scrutiny can be enhanced.
The Scottish Government set the national priorities for policing prior to the implementation of police reform. We will now engage with stakeholders and communities on setting new national priorities for policing in Scotland. We will do so in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders who have an interest in policing. This is an opportunity for people to tell us what they think the priorities should be in future.
Members will be aware that the chief constable announced last week that he will be stepping down. I thank Sir Stephen House again for his service and contribution to policing in Scotland. He provided leadership at a crucial time, with a strong focus on tackling violent crime, and he has made a major contribution to recorded crime falling to a 40-year low.
Members will also be aware that SPA chair Vic Emery announced that he will not seek reappointment when his three-year term ends this month. Following an extensive recruitment process, I can confirm that Andrew Flanagan will become the new chair. He will take up post from Monday 7 September. Andrew has served as chief executive, chairman and non-executive director in a number of organisations. He brings an abundance of experience in challenging and high-profile posts in the public, private and third sectors, and I am confident that he will prove to be an excellent appointment.
One of Andrew Flanagan’s key early priorities will be to appoint a suitable successor to Sir Stephen House, who can carry forward the process of reform to its conclusion and consolidate the delivery of its many benefits. The SPA has already started that process. I have already spoken to Andrew, and my immediate ask is that he undertake a review of police governance, supported by a reference group to contribute views and suggestions. That will ensure that accountability arrangements for policing can build on the lessons that have been learned to date, so that robust arrangements are in place for the future.
I have identified four specific areas on which I want the chair to focus: ensuring that local interests are effectively represented in the national scrutiny process; ensuring that the SPA has the appropriate structures and skills to undertake effective scrutiny; ensuring that the SPA, HMICS, the Scottish Government and the Parliament have the material and data required to hold Police Scotland to account; and reviewing how the authority works with other stakeholders, to ensure that its approach is rooted in partnership and contributes to wider objectives across the public sector. I have published the full remit of the review today.
What I have set out today is a significant and wide-ranging set of measures, which will strengthen policing in Scotland. I know that there have been challenges. Some events over the summer have prompted legitimate public concern. However, the fundamentals of our policing remain sound. We have a skilled and committed workforce of officers and staff, who deliver for our communities every day, and we have a process of reform to protect policing from the effects of austerity.
The actions that I am announcing will address the challenges and help us to learn from the initial years of reform. They will ensure that policing in Scotland is effective, accountable and community focused. I look forward to working with members to ensure that we have the police service that communities expect and deserve.