Chamber and committees

I appreciate that we do not have a huge amount of time.

It would be helpful if you could give us a great deal of detail on the retention issue, which is concerning both in the fact that the number of police officers is dropping and in the recent statistics showing that a disproportionate number of quite young police officers and officers with not many years’ service seem to have left. It would be helpful to get an understanding of that over a wider period and of whether that has changed over the past 10 or 20 years, say. If you can provide that detail when you write, it would be very useful.

I wanted to ask mainly about the work that is happening with individuals and agencies other than the NHS. A great deal of the evidence today has related to the national health service and the transfer of care—and to what happens in hospital or in similar settings. Many of the scenarios that the police have to deal with are clearly not in those settings. Could you say a little bit more about what work is being done now? Are other agencies or individuals working to ensure that the police can transfer individuals outside those settings? There have been a number of mentions of other agencies and other partners.

I have some questions about part 2 of the bill, which is titled “Assessment of offenders for rehabilitation programmes and services”. Glyn Lloyd has already referred to the lack of availability of programmes. Are there any gaps in the current assessment process for offenders’ suitability for rehabilitation programmes and for services that take place in court, during custody and prior to release from prison that would be addressed by part 2 of the bill?

: I have some questions about part 2 of the bill, which is titled “Assessment of offenders for rehabilitation programmes and services”. Glyn Lloyd has already referred to the lack of availability of programmes. Are there any gaps in the current assessment process for offenders’ suitability for rehabilitation programmes and for services that take place in court, during custody and prior to release from prison that would be addressed by part 2 of the bill?

Who wants to speak about part 2 of the bill?

Does either of the other witnesses want to come in? It would be helpful to know how significant the gap in availability is and to have an assessment of the extent to which rehabilitation is available, not just where specified criteria apply but where, ideally, it should be available.

: Does either of the other witnesses want to come in? It would be helpful to know how significant the gap in availability is and to have an assessment of the extent to which rehabilitation is available, not just where specified criteria apply but where, ideally, it should be available.

I will ask about the financial memorandum relating to this part of the bill. Pam Gosal, the member in charge of the bill, has told the committee that she believes that, if the obligations set out in the financial memorandum were met, there would be sufficient capacity in the system in relation to part 2 of the bill. What are your views on that? I do not know whether you have had an opportunity to look at it in detail. For example, are the finances the only issue, or is it to do with recruitment and whether we have people available who would be able to carry out those functions? Have any of the witnesses looked at the costings around some of these proposals? Would Glyn Lloyd like to come in on that?

: I will ask about the financial memorandum relating to this part of the bill. Pam Gosal, the member in charge of the bill, has told the committee that she believes that, if the obligations set out in the financial memorandum were met, there would be sufficient capacity in the system in relation to part 2 of the bill. What are your views on that? I do not know whether you have had an opportunity to look at it in detail. For example, are the finances the only issue, or is it to do with recruitment and whether we have people available who would be able to carry out those functions? Have any of the witnesses looked at the costings around some of these proposals? Would Glyn Lloyd like to come in on that?

I understand. Are there any non-legislative changes that could be made to improve opportunities for and success of rehabilitation programmes and services for domestic abuse survivors? Obviously, this is a legislative mechanism. Do you think that we need a legislative mechanism for that? Quite often, this Parliament thinks that legislation helps to drive change that could happen without legislation, but the legislation is a way of trying to ensure that that happens. Do witnesses have any comments on whether we need legislation?

: I understand. Are there any non-legislative changes that could be made to improve opportunities for and success of rehabilitation programmes and services for domestic abuse survivors? Obviously, this is a legislative mechanism. Do you think that we need a legislative mechanism for that? Quite often, this Parliament thinks that legislation helps to drive change that could happen without legislation, but the legislation is a way of trying to ensure that that happens. Do witnesses have any comments on whether we need legislation?

Thank you very much.

: Thank you very much.

I have some questions about part 2 of the bill, which is titled “Assessment of offenders for rehabilitation programmes and services”. Glyn Lloyd has already referred to the lack of availability of programmes. Are there any gaps in the current assessment process for offenders’ suitability for rehabilitation programmes and for services that take place in court, during custody and prior to release from prison that would be addressed by part 2 of the bill?

Who wants to speak about part 2 of the bill?

I understand. Are there any non-legislative changes that could be made to improve opportunities for and success of rehabilitation programmes and services for domestic abuse survivors? Obviously, this is a legislative mechanism. Do you think that we need a legislative mechanism for that? Quite often, this Parliament thinks that legislation helps to drive change that could happen without legislation, but the legislation is a way of trying to ensure that that happens. Do witnesses have any comments on whether we need legislation?

Does either of the other witnesses want to come in? It would be helpful to know how significant the gap in availability is and to have an assessment of the extent to which rehabilitation is available, not just where specified criteria apply but where, ideally, it should be available.

I will ask about the financial memorandum relating to this part of the bill. Pam Gosal, the member in charge of the bill, has told the committee that she believes that, if the obligations set out in the financial memorandum were met, there would be sufficient capacity in the system in relation to part 2 of the bill. What are your views on that? I do not know whether you have had an opportunity to look at it in detail. For example, are the finances the only issue, or is it to do with recruitment and whether we have people available who would be able to carry out those functions? Have any of the witnesses looked at the costings around some of these proposals? Would Glyn Lloyd like to come in on that?