§ Lord Campbell of Allowayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will allow police officers in Scotland the right to legal representation at a disciplinary hearing before the chief constable.
§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Lord Gray of Contin)Having carefully considered the views of the police staff associations on this matter, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has concluded that police officers in Scotland, of the rank of chief superintendent or below, should have the same right to be represented by a solicitor or counsel at certain disciplinary hearings as is now embodied in the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill for their 397WA colleagues in England and Wales. The disciplinary hearings in question are those at which officers are liable, if found guilty, to be punished by dismissal, requirement to resign or reduction in rank. My right honourable friend therefore intends, after he has undertaken appropriate consultations with the police representative bodies and with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, to bring forward regulations providing for the introduction of legal representation in Scotland in the circumstances outlined.