News

On 20 February the Commissioner gave evidence to the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee. The Commissioner attended the Parliament to answer questions following an earlier written submission provided in January.

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow has accepted an invitation from the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) to deliver the annual Jack Urquhart Memorial Lecture at the ASPS conference in May. The theme for the conference is ‘policing...

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow has this week initiated preliminary consultation as part of the first statutory review of the Code of Practice. The current Code of Practice was approved by Scottish Ministers and the Parliament before taking...

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow has this week initiated preliminary consultation on the potential shape and form of our next 4-year strategic plan.

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow has recently written to Police Scotland, the SPA, and the PIRC confirming that they are currently complying with the Commissioner’s statutory Code of Practice. In the case of Police Scotland, this is conditional...

The Commissioner has provided the following written submission and will give evidence to the committee on 20 February.

PIRC Commissioner Michelle Macleod has been awarded a CBE for services to Criminal Justice in Scotland as announced in the King's New Year Honours list. Michelle is a solicitor and has been PIRC Commissioner since 2019. She was previously HM...

The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow has today welcomed the publication of the Annual Report of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner for England and Wales. The England and Wales Commissioner has a wider UK role where the police...

On 28 November the Commissioner and Director attended the SPA Board meeting to provide the SBC annual report. During the session the Commissioner talked about our previous assurance reviews and the Director confirmed the topics of our up and coming...

On 19 June 2024, and in partnership with the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland, the Commissioner co-hosted the first ever ‘Biometrics in Criminal Justice Conference’ in Edinburgh. The conference was opened by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home...

On the 13 November the Commissioner and Director attended a session of the Criminal Justice Committee. During the session the Commissioner discussed our latest Annual Report and Accounts, our recent joint report on Laws of Retention and provided a flavour...

Report of a review of the retention of biometric data provided for under sections 18 to 19C of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 Scottish Government and the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner