§ Mr. Smallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet reached any conclusions on the report of the working group which examined possible ways of introducing an independent element into the procedure for dealing with complaints against the police in Scotland.
§ Mr. William RossIt is already provided in the Police (Discipline) (Scotland)170W Regulations that where a complaint amounts to an allegation of a criminal offence the complaint must go to the procurator fiscal. In cases, however, where no criminal offence is alleged, the procurator fiscal is not normally involved, and I believe that there would be advantage, both to the public and police, in introducing into the procedure a further element independent of the police. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for Home Affairs and Agriculture intends to discuss this matter with representatives of the police.