Implementation of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012

The Committee has held a number of oral evidence sessions to monitor the implementation of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.

This page details these sessions and includes links to the relevant Official Reports, as well as related correspondence.

The Committee first took evidence from Chief Constable Stephen House of the Police Service of Scotland and Vic Emery, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), as part of its budget scrutiny of the police budget 2013-14 at its meeting on 23 October 2012.

• Read the Official Report from the 23 October 2012 committee meeting (546KB pdf)
•  Letter from the Scottish Government to the Police Service of Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (13 November 2012) (159KB pdf)
• Letter from the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents to the Convener (22 November 2012) (138KB pdf)

The Committee took evidence on general issues around police service reform and, more specifically, the dispute between the SPA and Chief Constable over their respective responsibilities under the Act, at its meeting on 27 November 2012. Chief Constable House, the Chair of the SPA and Andrew Laing, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland gave evidence.

• Read the Official Report from the 27 November 2012 committee meeting (537KB pdf)

Following that meeting, the Committee wrote to both the Chief Constable and SPA to seek a resolution on the dispute over responsibilities.

• Letter from the Convener to the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland (5 December 2012) (63KB pdf)
• Letter from the Convener to the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority (5 December 2012) (63KB pdf)

The Committee also wrote to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the SFRS Board seeking an update on the progress in establishing a single service. The Committee also asked for information about the responsibilities of both the SFRS and the SFRS Board in relation to human resources and finance.

• Letter from the Convener to the Chief Fire Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (29 November 2012) (6KB pdf) 
• Letter from the Convener to the Chair, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board (29 November 2012) (6KB pdf)

The Committee considered the responses from Chief Constable House, the SPA and SFRS/SFRS Board at its meeting on 8 January 2013.

• Read the Official Report from the 8 January 2013 committee meeting (331KB pdf)
• Letter from the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority to the Convener on organisation of business activities - Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland (21 December 2012) (129KB pdf)
• Letter from the Chief Constable, Police Scotland to the Convener on roles and responsibilities (20 December 2012) (7KB pdf)
• Joint letter from the Chief Fire Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Chair, SFRS Board to the Convener (6 December 2012) (81KB pdf)

At the 8 February meeting, the Committee agreed to write again to the Chief Constable and SPA in relation to their responsibilities.

• Letter from the Convener to the Chief Constable, Police Scotland (8 January 2013) (8KB pdf)
• Letter from the Convener to the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority (8 January 2013) (66KB pdf)

The Committee considered the responses at its meeting on 23 January 2013. The Committee agreed to write to the SPA to ask for a copy of the codicil mentioned in its response.

• Letter from the Chief Constable, Police Scotland to the Convener (18 January 2013) (63KB pdf)
• Letter from the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority to the Convener (18 January 2013) (65KB pdf)

The Committee considered the additional information provided by the SPA at its meeting on 19 February 2013.

• Letter from the Scottish Police Authority to the Convener (4 February 2013) (64KB pdf)
• Letter from the Scottish Police Authority to the Convener on the staffing of the interim support team (8 February 2013) (72KB pdf)

The Committee agreed to write again to the SPA seeking sight of the full document or exchange of correspondence that comprised the codicil.

• Letter from the Convener to the Scottish Police Authority (20 February 2013) (64KB pdf)
• Letter from the Scottish Police Authority to the Convener (28 February 2013) (3412KB pdf)

The Committee received correspondence from the Scottish Police Authority in relation to day one business activities between the Police Service of Scotland and Scottish Police Authority.

• Letter from the Scottish Police Authority to the Convener (14 March 2013) (281KB pdf)

Subordinate legislation arising from the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012

• Letter from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to the Convener (134KB pdf)
• Letter from the Scottish Government to the Subordinate Legislation Committee (113KB pdf) 

Justice sub-committee on the scrutiny of policing matters

At its meetings on 8 and 23 January 2013, the Justice Committee considered a mechanism for the closer scrutiny of policing matters.

The Committee considered this proposal again at its meeting on 19 February 2013 and agreed to write to the Parliamentary Bureau proposing a Justice sub-committee on the scrutiny of policing matters.