PE1501 is on public inquiries into self-inflicted and accidental deaths following suspicious death investigations. The committee previously wrote to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to ascertain the level of investigation that has been carried out into the 4,000 deaths that have been classified as self-inflicted in the past five years. The committee also agreed to consider the petition in the context of the forthcoming fatal accident inquiry legislation.
We have received a response from the COPFS and a letter from the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs about the petition. The petitioner has indicated that the forthcoming FAI legislation is unlikely to directly address the issues that are raised in his petition, and the minister has restated the Scottish Government’s position that it has no plans to introduce proposals along the lines of those that have been requested by the petitioner.
After the meeting papers were published, the petitioner contacted the clerks to advise us that he would like the opportunity to respond to the points that are raised in the COPFS letter. Are members content to invite the petitioner to respond to the COPFS letter and to consider the response?
Members indicated agreement.