03.10.2013
The Justice Sub-Committee on Policing has agreed to devote its next evidence session on 31 October to consider local policing.
It will scrutinise Police Scotland’s proposals arising from its review of public counter provisions and is inviting the Chief Constable of Police Scotland Stephen House, COSLA and Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland to participate in the meeting.
Committee Convener Christine Grahame MSP, said today:
“In light of the growing local concern regarding policing in our communities, together with the proposals to remove and reduce police counter provision and the apparent standardisation of policing practices across Scotland, we need to examine this issue in greater detail.”
“Our Committee agreed this afternoon that it is essential to hear from those at the top and their perspectives on this important issue. Our meeting on 31 October will let us hear from those at a strategic level before we take evidence from others such as local authorities, police bodies and community groups at grass-root level”.
Background
This is a sub-committee of the Justice Committee that has been established to oversee the operation of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 as it relates to policing. The creation of the sub-committee meets a requirement set out in the 2012 Act for the Scottish Parliament to make arrangements for keeping under review and reporting on the operation of the Act. The Act replaces the eight territorial police forces in Scotland with one national force, the Police Service of Scotland, to be overseen by a Scottish Police Authority.
Sub-committee members have been selected from the Justice Committee, Local Government and Regeneration Committee and Equal Opportunities Committee to represent these committees’ interests in policing.