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MSPs deliver McKie case verdict MSPs deliver McKie case verdict
(40 minutes later)
A parliamentary report into the Shirley McKie case has heavily criticised the management of the Scottish Fingerprint Service. A parliamentary report into the Shirley McKie case has heavily criticised the management of the Scottish Fingerprint Service (SFS).
MSPs criticised the justice minister over Ms McKie's compensation deal and cleared fingerprint officers involved of acting maliciously. MSPs were also critical of the justice minister over Ms McKie's compensation deal and cleared fingerprint officers involved of acting maliciously.
The report concluded that significant weaknesses still need to be addressed.The report concluded that significant weaknesses still need to be addressed.
The former detective received a £750,000 out-of-court settlement after being cleared of committing perjury.The former detective received a £750,000 out-of-court settlement after being cleared of committing perjury.
Ms McKie, from Troon, Ayrshire, contested the opinion of experts from the fingerprint service. Ms McKie, from Troon, Ayrshire, had been accused of leaving a fingerprint at the Kilmarnock home of murder victim Marion Ross 10 years ago.
She contested the opinion of experts from the fingerprint service.
The 11-month Holyrood inquiry was the longest and most complex mounted by MSPs to date.The 11-month Holyrood inquiry was the longest and most complex mounted by MSPs to date.
Human resources Fundamental weaknesses
The report by the Justice 1 Committee said the fingerprint service had made significant progress in recent months towards the implementation of the Scottish Executive's Action Plan for Excellence The members of the Justice 1 Committee said: "Management must take action to address fundamental weaknesses which have seriously impaired the efficiency and effectiveness of the SFS."
The MSPs highlighted the failure to have one standard approach to identifying fingerprints as "unacceptable".
They also flagged up concerns about quality assurance, the high levels of sickness in the Glasgow fingerprint bureau and frequent changes of personnel higher up the organisation.
The report said the SFS had made significant progress in recent months towards the implementation of the Scottish Executive's Action Plan for Excellence
However, it said the service faces considerable challenges if it is to become a "centre of excellence".However, it said the service faces considerable challenges if it is to become a "centre of excellence".
The report said this plan should be strengthened in the areas of leadership and management, human resources, procedures and quality assurance. Many senior figures are implicated in the failure to properly resolve this crisis in Scotland's criminal justice system Kenny MacAskillSNP justice spokesman
The committee called for robust processes to deal with external challenges to fingerprint identification. Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said she welcomed the report.
The report added that this would give staff confidence in exercising their professional judgement in difficult cases. "We will now need to give careful and detailed consideration to the committee's conclusions and recommendations," she said.
"In doing so, I want to re-state my clear commitment to ensuring that the SFS provides a world class service fit for the criminal justice challenges of the 21st Century."
SNP justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill said the report left some crucial questions unanswered and called for a full public inquiry.
He said: "Despite the fact that concerns about the operation of Scotland's fingerprint service have been under debate for 10 years, a properly functioning bureau remains at least two years away."
"Many senior figures, including justice ministers Jim Wallace and Cathy Jamieson are implicated in the failure to properly resolve this crisis in Scotland's criminal justice system."