Annual Report 2012-13

The Inspectorate came into being as a result of an equalities issue and equality issues are considered in the production of reports. Some topics are more obvious candidates than others.

As mentioned last year the production of a report on sexual offences and the working of the new Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 will require careful consideration of equality issues, not least as a result of recent work by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (published in September 2011).

As in previous years the Inspectorate continues to maintain close links with the Crown Office Equality Advisory Group and the Working Group on Interpreting and Translation which bring together all the major criminal justice players.

Of particular note is the addition to the Advisory Group of Marsha Scott to advise on equality issues. Originally the Equal Opportunities Commissioner for Scotland was a member but left the Group after she demitted office. Marsha's membership of the Group will strengthen the advice available to the Inspectorate in this field.