Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission minutes: March 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Chair - Martyn Evans 

• Commissioners

• Lynsey Smith
• Sheriff David Mackie
• Dr Hannah Graham
• Cathy Jamieson
• Catherine Dyer CBE
• Secretariat - Quentin Fisher, Alastair Bowden, Shana Manzoor

Items and actions

Welcome: including updates on engagement, action log and meeting notes

The Chair has recently been on visits to the Health and Social Care Partnership in Glasgow, HMP Shotts, Edinburgh custody courts and Community Justice Scotland and there was discussion of upcoming engagement plans.

The Mcleish Recommendations: consideration of their current status and areas the Commission may wish to focus on.

The Commission discussed the McLeish Report recommendations and which of these can be considered to be fully implemented. The Commission then considered what further actions could be considered in these areas.

Call for Evidence: Consideration of questions and approach

A consultation paper was submitted for review. Commissioners and Chair provided their views on potential amendments, and it was agreed that Dr Hannah Graham would send in more detailed comments after the meeting.

Justice Analytical Services (JAS) Brief consideration of data/gaps in advance of JAS meeting in April.

It was agreed that Chair/ Commissioners and secretariat would all consider in advance what data questions we may have for JAS in the upcoming session to make the best use of that time.

AOB and Next Commission meeting

It was agreed that Commissioners can engage separately on terms agreed by the Chair and Dr Hannah Graham (excerpted below)

• "If Commissioners want to do additional engagement, then that can only benefit our insights and the quality of the Commission’s final report. Indeed, I would welcome such initiative
• The Secretariat’s  preference would be not to add any more infrastructure/bureaucracy. They would ask to be told in advance just in case they were already in contact or are particularly keen to come along, but generally no need for them to be there
• After any such meeting, it would be useful if a brief note could be sent to the Secretariat. Such a note would be useful for the Commission’s records (and for any FOI requests) or to follow up anything interesting. A one page or a few bullets in an email would be ideal
• If Commissioners wish to tweet about their visits I have no issue in principle. I am on X and have recently joined Blue Sky. I have not yet tweeted about the Commission
• Maybe we can discuss how social media might help the Commission flag, raise some of the issues well in advance of the of report
• I am keen to consider social media to  promote our call for advice when we issue it and report on some of the reposes
• I would ask that you did not meet politicians on your own initiative without discussing it with me first"

The next meeting will be in person at St Andrew’s House on 28 April 2025