Review Of PIRC Powers

MSPs are calling for the police commissioner to have the authority to investigate all cases fully.

The Independent/Green Group is piling pressure on the Scottish Government to review the powers available to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. It follows the death of Sheku Bayoh in Kirkcaldy last month. There are claims police officers involved in the case were initially told not to give operational statements; however all nine of them have now spoken to investigators.

The PIRC was directed by the Crown to investigate in the case of Mr Bayoh but it cannot compel police officers to provide statements. MSPs say, had PIRC been instructed by the Chief Constable or the Scottish Police Authority however, it would have been able to compel officers to give a statement.

Independent MSP John Finnie said: "On behalf of the Independent/Green Group of MSPs, I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to ask that he examines the gap in the legislation that hinders PIRC’s ability to investigate matters in a timely manner.

"It is vital that we have a full confidence in the investigations that PIRC carry out and to have a less robust system depending on where PIRC is receiving its authority to investigate is not satisfactory. I trust that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will give the issue his full consideration, regardless of the outcome of PIRC’s on-going investigation."