Sheriff Hamilton (Greenock), K Rocks, J Hinds and L Gaff (all East Renfrewshire Council), A Howard and S McAlees (both Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership), Jim Hunter (North Strathclyde Communty Justice Authority) and D Hawthorn (Renfrewshire Council).

There was submitted the Minute of meeting between the Sheriff Principal, Sheriffs of North Strathclyde Sheriffdom and Directors of Social Work/Community Justice Authorities held on 4 December 2015. 

It was noted that D MacRitchie (North Ayrshire Council) attended the meeting and that this was not recorded in the Minute.

It was also noted that K Ritchie submitted an apology and this was not recorded in the Minute.

In relation to item 8 of the Minute it was noted that this item should have referred to Restriction of Liberty Orders (RLOs) and not Rehabilitation Length of Stay Orders (RLOs).

DECIDED: That, subject to the amendments noted above, the Minute be approved.

There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Officers, North Strathclyde Community Justice Authority and Southwest Scotland Community Justice Authority providing an update of the work of the Authorities.  

The report provided information in relation to the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016; the new Community Custody Units for women; work being done in relation to  the Whole System Approach for Women; confirmation from Scottish Government of a further years funding for community justice services for women in 2016/17; potential developments in community sentencing such as electronic monitoring; and the analysis of consultation results on Presumption Against Short Sentences published by the Scottish Government.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

Under reference to item 7 of the Minute of meeting of this group held on 4 December 2015 A Scott provided an update in respect of Renfrewshire Council’s participation in the penal policy improvement project to explore how partners could reduce the use of remand, maximise the use of community disposals by the court and reduce the negative impact on desistance from offending that short periods of imprisonment could cause.   

DECIDED: That the update in relation to the penal policy improvement project be noted.

A Scott provided an update in relation to the SACRO bail supervision service.

DECIDED: That the update be noted.

CHILD PROTECTION ORDERS

Under reference to item 9 of the Minute of the meeting of this Group held on 13 May 2016 further discussion took place concerning the need to contact interested parties when presenting emergency CPOs at Sheriff Court; whether hearings required to be held at Sheriff Court; if there was a need to advise families prior to the emergency hearing; if a Solicitor required to be present; and whether electronic or paper warrants should be used.

During the course of the discussion the Sheriff Principal and Sheriffs advised that there was no requirement to advise families of an emergency order, they could be advised at a later date; orders should be raised in the area where the child would be; hearings did not require to be held at Sheriff Court as it may be that the Sheriff Courts would not be open when the order was required and the hearing could be dealt with as a paper exercise; Solicitors should be present if the hearing was being held at Sheriff Court; if the Sheriff was unhappy with the paperwork a Solicitor should be present to argue the case; paper warrants were preferable as these could easily be amended.

DECIDED: That the views of the Sheriff Principal and Sheriffs be noted.

J Murray provided an update in relation to the electronic monitoring system operated by G4S.

DECIDED: That the update be noted.

a) Community Payback Orders

A discussion took place relative to concerns around Community Payback Orders and the actions being taken to resolve issues in Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

DECIDED:

(i) That the update be noted; and

(ii) That Norman Firth arrange a meeting with Sheriffs in Dumbarton to discuss issues.

(b) Restriction of Liberty Orders

A discussion took place concerning the process carried out by social work staff in Greenock Sheriff Court in relation to Restriction of Liberty Orders.

DECIDED: That it be noted that the Sheriffs in Greenock Sheriff Court were happy with the process carried out by social work staff in Greenock Sheriff Court.

(c) Unpaid Work

A Scott provided an update in relation to unpaid work carried out in Renfrewshire.

DECIDED: That reports covering unpaid work in all areas be submitted to the next meeting of this group to be held on 25 November 2016.

The group considered arrangements for the next meeting of the group. 

 DECIDED:

(a) That the next meeting of this group be held on Friday 25 November 2016 at 2.00 p.m. within Paisley Sheriff Court, St James Street, Paisley; and

(b) That any further items to be considered be notified to Committee Services, Renfrewshire Council.

Sheriff Principal Murray, Sheriff McDonald (Kilmarnock), Sheriff Pender (Dumbarton), A Scott and E Currie (both Renfrewshire Council), W Kennedy (North Strathclyde Community Justice Authority), and J Murray (South West Scotland Community Justice Authority), D MacRitchie (North Ayrshire Council), Norman Firth (Argyll, Bute and Dunbartonshire Criminal Justice Partnership), G Booth (Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership).

Sheriff Principal D L Murray presided.