Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 25 November 2020
I thank the Conservatives for lodging the motion. Far from shirking responsibility, I think that we have an excellent opportunity to debate an excellent and substantial report, for which I thank Dame Elish Angiolini.
As Liam Kerr rightly pointed out, there are a number of substantial and significant recommendations in the report. I am sure that we will give many of the key recommendations a good airing during the debate. Nobody is hiding from them.
In that vein, I was pleased to note that this morning, the chief constable spoke at the SPA board meeting about reviewing equality matters. He said that
“Racism and discrimination of any kind is deplorable and unacceptable, and I utterly condemn it. It has no place in society, and no place in the police service of Scotland.”
He went on to accept and agree with Dame Elish’s recommendation that there be an independent review of equality matters. I was delighted to see that recommendation, and to see that the chief constable has moved at pace.
In that light, where the Government can move at pace, we absolutely will. It has been two weeks since the almost 500-page report with more than 80 recommendations was released. A substantial number of the recommendations—more than 30—are for the Scottish Government. There will be no dithering, nor will there be delay. Of course, we are in the midst of a global pandemic, but I absolutely assure Liam Kerr and Conservative members that I have spoken to the SPA, the Crown Office, Police Scotland and other key partners. I will take up conversation with the PIRC and will review some of the recommendations for that body very carefully.
The report was substantial, and we have to make sure that we take our partners on board on the journey. Across the chamber, we all have a shared endeavour—[Interruption.]—and we all want a complaints process that is fairer and more transparent, and which carries an even higher degree of public confidence.