§ 40. Mr. Dalyellasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement on the official engagements of the Lord Advocate in accompanying Scottish police on night patrol.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandThe Lord Advocate, in the course of his duty as public prosecutor, has to deal with many matters which originate in encounters between the police and public. He considered it desirable to have first-hand knowledge of such encounters and for that reason arranged to accompany police officers on night patrol in Edinburgh on 5–6 September 1980. The patrol was totally unrehearsed and the Lord Advocate saw police officers carrying out their 95W ordinary duties. He was most impressed by the conduct of the police, who were firm when firmness was called for and who showed a great understanding of the problems faced by the community they serve. This is the only night patrol which he has accompanied. The only other patrol which he has accompanied has been in daytime in the Grampian region.