Meeting of the Parliament 11 February 2016
In response to Alison McInnes and Elaine Murray, I put on record my acceptance of the need for us to provide assurances to members, and I welcome their agreement to amendment 3.
In developing the national strategy and the performance framework, it is important that, as far as possible, we reflect the linkages between what we are doing in the secondary and tertiary prevention that the bill covers and the existing strategies for primary prevention, such as the youth justice strategy and other measures including early years intervention.
I entirely agree with Elaine Murray that desistance is a priority. I commend the committee for its persuasion in including within the definition of community justice the point of arrest—although, of course, people are not yet offenders at that point, as they are still innocent until proven guilty. Through that change, we are in a position perhaps to prevent escalation of offending behaviour between the point at which someone comes formally into the purview of the courts and the point at which a disposal is determined. I hope that that is sufficient reassurance.
I reiterate that we will seek to make very explicit the linkages between the work that we are doing within the national strategy, the work of community justice Scotland and the existing strategies that cover primary prevention. I hope that that reassures members.
I regret that the Conservatives are not prepared to support amendment 3, but I acknowledge the points that Margaret Mitchell made and know that they are ones that she stands by.
Amendment 1 agreed to.
Amendment 2 moved—[Paul Wheelhouse]—and agreed to.
Amendment 3 moved—[Paul Wheelhouse].