Minister for Victims and Community Safety
Kirsten Oswald was appointed as Minister for Victims and Community Safety in May 2026.
Responsibilities
Supports the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.
- Access to Justice
- alcohol licensing
- anti-sectarianism
- anti-social behaviour
- CashBack for Communities
- community safety
- civil law and tribunals
- hate crime
- human trafficking
- legal aid
- legal profession including regulation
- victims, including Victim Notification Scheme
- Scottish Law Commission Bills
Biography
Kirsten Oswald studied Modern and Medieval History at the University of Glasgow.
Before entering elected politics, she worked in further education, including as Head of Human Resources at South Lanarkshire College, and later as a lecturer at City of Glasgow College.
Ms Oswald served as MP for East Renfrewshire from 2015 to 2017 and from 2019 to 2024, and was Deputy Leader of the SNP Group at Westminster from 2020 to 2022.
She was elected to the Scottish Parliament in May 2026 as the MSP for Eastwood.
- Read more about Kirsten Oswald on the Scottish Parliament website.