Report Summary
This report provides members of the Complaints & Conduct Committee with an overview of Police (Ethics, Conduct & Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill Update.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Complaints & Conduct Committee - 27 February 2025
Date : 27 February 2025
Location : Online
Background
The Police (Ethics, Conduct & Scrutiny) Scotland Bill (PECSS) was introduced as a Bill to the Scottish Parliament on 06 June 2023 to fulfil the Scottish Government’s commitment to bring forward legislation to deliver Lady Elish Angiolini’s recommendations which require legislation following her ‘Independent Review of Police Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues’.
The Bill covers a range of topics related to ethics and conduct for policing, as well as the functions and governance of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) and supports independent scrutiny by PIRC and Scottish Police Authority (SPA).
Provisions of the Bill relative to Police Scotland include:
- Establishment of the Code of Ethics for Police Scotland into statute.
- The introduction of a Duty of Candour as an additional Standard of Professional Behaviour.
- The introduction of a Barred and Advisory list for Police Scotland.
- Legislation to ensure that an officer cannot evade disciplinary proceedings by resigning or retiring during an investigation, securing an outcome and justice for the complainers.
These provisions, along with others in the Bill, aim to positively enhance culture and behaviours within policing and, consequently, seeks to enhance public confidence.
To ensure legislative compliance with the PECSS Bill it was necessary for a project to be established led by Police Scotland’s Professional Standards Department.
