Good morning. I will first speak to amendments 1 and 2, which will add further sources that the chief constable must refer to when preparing the code. That follows evidence that was given to the committee and a committee recommendation.
The bill as drafted sets out sources of police ethics to which regard must be had in preparing the code, including the standards of professional behaviour, the constable’s declaration, the policing principles, convention rights and any other human rights instruments that have been ratified by the United Kingdom. Those sources are to assist the chief constable in preparing the code.
The rights and obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 are an important source, because they now have the same domestic status as rights under the European convention on human rights. I thank the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland for suggesting that we add that.
I am grateful to Amnesty International for its suggestion that Police Scotland’s code of ethics should reflect the European code of police ethics. I believe that that will be a valuable source to consider when preparing the code of ethics, so my amendment 1 adds it to the list.
The UN code of conduct for law enforcement officials and the UN basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials are further worthy sources of police standards that will add value to Police Scotland’s code of ethics. I urge the committee to support amendments 1 and 2.