159.This section makes provision for the appointment of case review panels, which will be tasked with the carrying out of domestic homicide or suicide reviews. These panels will be appointed on an ad hoc basis as and when required for reviews.
160.Subsection (1) puts the review oversight committee in charge of establishing panels as and when they are required. Subsection (2) requires the Scottish Ministers to maintain a pool of at least three individuals who have been appointed as panel chairs, and who can therefore be called upon when a panel is being established.
161.Under subsection (3) a panel is to comprise a chair (selected from those appointed as panel chairs by Ministers) and such other members as the committee determines. The intention is that this will be a role performed by people who have valuable insights to offer but who will be able to do this alongside their everyday lives and work (e.g. police, COPFS and relevant victims’ organisations).
162.Subsection (4) specifies that an individual cannot be appointed to be a panel member (which would include being the chair of a panel) if the individual is, or within the past 3 years has been, a member of the review oversight committee.
Interpretation Review infrastructure Section 15 – Case review panels