Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 124, 22nd July 2002

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

Parliament is in recess.

SECTION 2 - NEWS

REPORT ON VULNERABLE WITNESSES
A report entitled Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses - a Review of Provisions in Other Jurisdictions has been published by the Scottish Executive Central Research.

Undertaken by Reid Howie Associates, it provides a comprehensive summary of current and recent provisions assisting vulnerable and intimidated witnesses to give evidence in adversarial criminal jurisdictions around the world, and reviews the research into the effectiveness of these provisions.

The research report complements the Executive Consultation Paper Vital Voices – Helping Vulnerable Witnesses Give Evidence published on 1^st May 2002, which is looking at whether the special measures currently available to assist certain witnesses, particularly children, should be more widely available, and how the existing measures can be improved.

Click Here to read the report in full
(Do not follow the link on the Scottish Executive website - it's wrong.)

Full Story

NEW CHIEF INSPECTOR OF PRISONS
The Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan has been appointed as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland. Dr McLellan succeeds Mr Clive Fairweather OBE in October of this year, when Mr Fairweather's appointment comes to an end.

His appointment is initially for four years, although it may be extended. The appointment was made by Ministers after open competition, according to the rules of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (Nolan rules), from a list of applicants deemed suitable for appointment by a panel which included an independent Nolan assessor.

The main functions of HM Chief Inspector of Prison for Scotland are:

• To undertake inspections of all penal establishments in Scotland. This is done on a published and programmed cyclical basis so that each such establishment receives a full formal inspection approximately once every three to four years;
• The intermediate inspection of all establishments not subject to formal inspection;
• The production of an Annual Report on the work of the Inspectorate for laying before the Scottish Parliament;
• The triennial inspection of all legalised police cells in Scotland and to submit reports thereon to the relevant Chief Constables and to Scottish Ministers;
• The regular thematic studies or reviews on topics relevant to the Scottish Prison Service and to submit reports to Scottish Ministers;
• Contact with Chief Executive and other personnel with the Scottish Prison Service and with other bodies concerned with the Prison Service in Scotland;
• Undertake any specific task in relation to the Prison Service in Scotland as directed by Scottish Ministers, and to report; and
• Dealing with enquiries from members of the media, including holding press conferences on the publication of reports (including Scottish Ministers' responses) at which he/she has the opportunity to discuss with the media matters relating to inspections and associated aspects of penal practice.

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

Parliament is in recess. 

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