Justice and Safety

  • The week in review

    12th May 2017 by

    British Transport Police The Scottish Parliament has approved the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill in principle after a stage one debate. When passed, the draft legislation will see the British Transport Police integrated into Police Scotland, creating a more effective, joined-up police service on Scotland’s railways. The stage one debate was opened by Transport Minister Humza...

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  • The week in review

    5th May 2017 by

    Parliamentary business has been curtailed this week with the local elections. However, various developments involving justice and community safety partners have been highlighted in recent days. Reducing reoffending, cutting crime: Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson welcomed news on Tuesday that reconviction rates for offenders in Scotland are at the lowest levels for eighteen years....

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  • Electronic Monitoring in Scotland Consultation

    5th May 2017 by

    On 2 March this year we launched our consultation on proposals for legislation to expand the use of electronic monitoring.  The consultation follows recommendations from the Electronic Monitoring Working Group which published its report in October 2016. The consultation paper describes what legislative changes might be required to take forward some proposals of the Working...

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  • The week in review

    28th April 2017 by

    Regulation of the legal profession, training individuals to identify and support women in abusive relationships, and the future of railway policing in Scotland were among the issues on Ministers’ agenda this week. Regulating the legal profession Consumer protection will be at the heart of an independent review into how legal services are regulated, Minister for...

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  • Safer Communities & Justice Brief : April 2017

    27th April 2017 by

    Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services have recently published the April edition of the Monthly Safer Communities and Justice Brief. This brief provides, in a single place, a concise but comprehensive overview of all the most important Justice and Safer Communities statistics. The brief includes a special feature on its back page, drawing from recent research undertaken by...

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  • Weekly round-up – April 21

    21st April 2017 by

    The announcement of new curbs against drug-driving, funding to tackle sectarianism and taking delivery of new fire & rescue vehicles were among the items on Ministers’ agenda this week. Mental health training This week Justice Secretary Michael Matheson saw mental health training for police officers in action in Glenrothes. The event formed part of the on-going...

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  • Police mental health training

    19th April 2017 by

    A few months back, Police Scotland launched their Policing 2026 consultation, aimed at ensuring our police keep pace with the changing nature of crime and of society. Alongside a commitment to increase frontline capabilities, including new civilian specialists in cyber-crime, the strategy recognises that demands in policing are increasingly focused towards addressing vulnerability. Our police...

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  • Guest blog – Karyn McCluskey – Community Justice Scotland Chief Executive

    7th April 2017 by

    While Parliament is in recess we have invited Karyn McCluskey to give us her thoughts following the official launch of the new national body. Sometimes when we consider the complexity of society and the tremendous challenges it offers us, it can feel overwhelming. Deprivation, homelessness, crime, disease – organisations, processes and plans can seem like...

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  • The week in review

    31st March 2017 by

    Railway policing bill on track On Tuesday the Cabinet Secretary of Justice Michael Matheson and the Transport Minister Humza Yousaf gave evidence to the Justice Committee on the Government’s plans to integrate British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland following the devolution of legislative responsibility for railway policing to the Scottish Parliament. Outlining to...

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  • The week in review

    24th March 2017 by

    Attack in London The week’s events have been overshadowed by the terrorist attack at Westminster. The thoughts of Scottish Government Ministers and civil servants – many with friends and colleagues working at Westminster and Whitehall – have been with those caught up in Wednesday’s incident, including relatives of those killed or injured, and the police...

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