Summary

  • FOR LIVE TEXT COVERAGE PLEASE SCROLL DOWN

  • The Public Petitions Committee took evidence on the Independent Review of Transvaginal Mesh Implants

  • The Lord Advocate was questioned during topical questions

  • MSPs debated how best to empower Scotland's island communities

  • Finally a debate marked 100 years of women in policing

  1. That's all from uspublished at 17:44 BST 6 October 2015

    That concludes our coverage of Holyrood on Thursday 8 October 2015.

    Remember you can catch up highlights of this week at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live.

    Holyrood at night

    We will be back on the tomorrow morning, Wedneday 7 October, with more business from Holyrood.

    Have a good night.

  2. Historical restrictionspublished at 17:40 BST 6 October 2015

    Youth and Women's Employment Minister Annabelle Ewing says it was not that long ago that female officers were being restricted to wearing skirts and carrying handbags.

    Ms Ewing says she knows Police Scotland fully supports diversity in the force and as a result women are in all pivotal roles, but she accepts more needs to be done.

    female police officers genericImage source, PA

    She says the Scottish government is committed to equality across all of Scotland.

  3. Minister closespublished at 17:39 BST 6 October 2015

    Youth and Women's Employment Minister Annabelle Ewing offers sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of PC David Phillips.

    SNP MSP, Annabelle EwingImage source, EPA
  4. Aspirationspublished at 17:35 BST 6 October 2015

    Labour MSP Elaine Murray says it is important not to forget that women are underrepresented at senior level in the police force.

    Labour MSP, Elaine Murray

    Ms Murray says she would like to see gender equality lead to more young girls aspiring to being a policewoman.

  5. Background: History of women in the police part twopublished at 17:32 BST 6 October 2015

    • 1976 -Policewomen to be known as Constable, Sergeant, etc, rather than WPC, WSgt, etc, creating equality with male colleagues.

    • 1986 -Amendment made to the Sex Discrimination Act enabling women to retire at the same age as men.

    • 1995 -Promotion of Superintendent Sandra Hood to become the first woman in Scotland to hold the rank of Chief Superintendent, and be put in charge of a police division - she is later appointed as Scotland's first female Assistant Chief Constable.

    • 2006 -Margaret Barr appointed Director of the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan - she is the first woman, and the first serving police officer, to hold the title.

    • 2008 -Norma Graham became Scotland's first female Chief Constable, at Fife Constabulary.

    • 2012 -Rose Fitzpatrick appointed as first female Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

    Police paradeImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Almost 40% of this year's class at Tulliallan was comprised of female officers

  6. Background: History of women in the police part onepublished at 17:29 BST 6 October 2015

    Evelyn Miles the first women in Birmingham City Police Force
    Image caption,

    Evelyn Miles the first women in Birmingham City Police Force

    • 1915 - 1918 -Emily Miller joins City of Glasgow Police & Jean Thomas joins Dundee City Police.

    • 1918 - 1919 -Chief Constables asked to consider appointing women within their forces "where necessary".

    • 1922 -Chief Constable of Dundee City is forced to publicly deny he had a woman working as a Constable (even though he did have one).

    • 1924 -On 14 June 1924, women constables granted the power of arrest.

    • 1940 -Miss Jean Malloy was promoted to Detective Sergeant and became the first woman in Scotland to gain rank.

    • 1954 -Miss Janet Gray is promoted to Chief Inspector - and later Superintendent - and for the first time, there are uniformed Sergeants.

    • 1962 -Policewomen 'attached' to CID recognised as "Detective Constables".

    • 1968 -Policewomen allowed to remain in post after marriage, with the intention of retaining experienced officers.

  7. Treated unfairlypublished at 17:28 BST 6 October 2015

    Lib Dem justice spokesperson Alison McInnes says challenges remain as over a third of women who responded to a recent Scottish police staff survey felt they were not being treated fairly at work.

    Lib Dem MSP, Alison McInnes
  8. 'The service now relies on women to deliver'published at 17:24 BST 6 October 2015

    Labour MSP Graeme Pearson begins by paying tribute to PC David Phillips and goes on to pay tribute to PC Nicola Hughes, 23, and PC Fiona Bone, 32, who were murdered in Manchester in 2012.

    Mr Pearson, a former senior police officer pays tribute to the role of policewomen in Police Scotland.

    Labour MSP, Graeme Pearson

    He says: "The service now relies on women to deliver.

    "It could not operate without women in its ranks."

    PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes were killed in the attackImage source, Other
    Image caption,

    PC Nicola Hughes, 23, and PC Fiona Bone, 32, were murdered in the line of duty in Manchester in 2012

    There is still much to be done by men and women in Police Scotland to bring about equality, Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes put an end to the notion of it being a man's world.

  9. Women police officerspublished at 17:17 BST 6 October 2015

    Ms Goldie says at least now women police officers are involved in every aspect of policing in Scotland.

  10. Never a safe daypublished at 17:15 BST 6 October 2015

    Scottish Conservative MSP Annabel Goldie begins by pointing to the headlines about the police officer struck and killed by a stolen car during a pursuit in Merseyside.

    PC David Phillips, 34, was hit by a pick-up vehicle that mounted a central reservation in Wallasey at 02:10 BST.

    PC David PhillipsImage source, Merseyside Police
    Image caption,

    PC David Phillips was a married father-of-two

    The married father-of-two had been trying to stop the vehicle, which was taken from an estate agents in Birkenhead.

    A post-mortem examination found Mr Phillips died of internal injuries.

    Merseyside Police has launched a murder investigation.

    Ms Goldie says there is no such day as a safe day for police officers and she pays tribute and thanks all policemen and women for the role they carry out.

  11. Strugglepublished at 17:11 BST 6 October 2015

    Ms Fabiani says the historic struggle women have had in the police force, and the way they have overcome the barriers put before them, is fascinating.

  12. Background: Police Scotland celebrates 100 years of female police officerspublished at 17:09 BST 6 October 2015

    Scotland's most senior female police officer said there are no ranks or roles closed to women in the force in June.

    Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick was speaking at a passing-out parade at the Scottish Police College.

    Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick Police Scotland
    Image caption,

    Rose Fitzpatrick was appointed Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland in 2012

    Almost 40% of the course's recruits are women, the highest proportion ever.

    Police Scotland were celebrating 100 years of women in the service - although female officers were not permitted to wear trousers as part of their uniform until the 1980s.

  13. Positive role modelspublished at 17:07 BST 6 October 2015

    Fitzpatrick paradeImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick led an all-female party overseeing the parade

    Ms Fabiani highlights the diverse policing roles that women now hold and the positive role women officers have played, and continue to play, in keeping everyone safe in their communities.

  14. Edith Smith trailblazerpublished at 17:04 BST 6 October 2015

    Ms Fabiani says 2015 marks 100 years of women in policing, following Edith Smith being appointed in August 1915 as the first female officer in the UK with full powers of arrest.

    She says this milestone is being celebrated by Police Scotland with a series of events around the country.

    The East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani thanks the retired officers, Dorothy Parker and Barbara McInally for sharing their memorabilia and memories at a successful event in the town.

    It was was hosted by Police Scotland Lanarkshire Division on 22 June.

  15. 100 Years of Women in Policing debatepublished at 17:04 BST 6 October 2015

    SNP MSP Linda Fabiani leads a debate on 100 years of women in policing.

    SNP MSP Linda Fabiani
  16. Decision timepublished at 17:02 BST 6 October 2015

    MSPs pass the amended motion from the Scottish government unanimously, with Labour's amendment being passed unanimously but the Lib Dem amendment falling.

  17. Best practicepublished at 16:59 BST 6 October 2015

    The minister concludes saying says Our Islands Our Future took the opportunity of the independence referendum to look at how to improve governance of the islands.

    Mr Mackay says there is an opportunity to take local government even closer to communities so islands can gain even better representation.

    He says he is looking forward to the islanders' conference to make sure best practice is spread throughout the islands.

  18. Background: CalMac ferry procurementpublished at 16:56 BST 6 October 2015

    Caledonian MacBrayne and Serco were invited to start preparing their final bids for the new contract to run Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services in August.

    The process to appoint a contractor to the ferries network has seen trade unions clash with CalMac and the Scottish government.

    The RMT and TSSA unions had concerns the new contract would lead to job losses and affect pensions.

    CalMac operates the ferry services but faces competition from Serco Caledonian Ferries Limited for the next contract to run the network for up to another eight years.

    CalMac ferryImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    CalMac and Serco are bidding to run the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network

  19. Ministerial closepublished at 16:55 BST 6 October 2015

    Islands Minister Derek Mackay says the government will accept Labour's amendment but not the Lib Dem amendment.

    Mr MacKay says the procurement exercise in relation to CalMac ferries must follow the European guidelines.

    Transport and Island Minister Derek Mackay
    Image caption,

    Transport and Island Minister Derek Mackay

    The minister goes on to say the government must work for all of Scotland's 93 islands.

  20. Labour closingpublished at 16:45 BST 6 October 2015

    Labour MSP Ken Macintosh says the proposals in the motion do not have the most bearing on islanders wellbeing.

    Mr Macintosh says islanders want more say on the issues that govern their life.

    Labour MSP, Ken MacintoshImage source, BBC

    Most of all they want the chance to work, live and prosper on the islands, he says.

    He says there are fewer houses with affordable rent and this is a major issue for the islands.