Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020

Arrangements for the custody of persons detained at police stations

2 (1) The Scottish Ministers may make arrangements for functions within sub-paragraph (2) to be performed in such cases as may be determined by or under the arrangements by prisoner custody officers with escort functions.

(2) Those functions are—

(a) functions of the transfer or custody of prisoners in police stations which are in connection with appearances by those prisoners before courts by electronic means,

(b) functions of an administrative character in connection with the appearance of prisoners in police stations before courts by electronic means.

(3) Arrangements made by the Scottish Ministers under this paragraph may include entering into contracts with other persons for the provision by them of prisoner custody officers.

(4) For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a) a prisoner custody officer with escort functions is a person in respect of whom a certificate under section 114 of the 1994 Act (prisoner custody officers: general functions) is for the time being in force which certifies that the person has been approved by the Scottish Ministers for the purpose of performing—

(i) escort functions, or

(ii) both escort functions and custodial duties,

(b) a reference to appearing before a court by electronic means is a reference to appearing before a court by electronic means by virtue of—

(i) Part 1 of schedule 4 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, or

(ii) any other enactment allowing or requiring appearances before a court to be made by electronic means.