Listen
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
04/06/2010
The Minister for Children and Early Years has announced the appointment of a new Deputy Chair to the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA).
The new Deputy Chair is Malcolm Dickson.
Malcolm Dickson was the Assistant Inspector of Constabulary between 2006 and 2008. He has spent much of his 32 year career in the public sector, initiating and developing effective working links and projects with local authority and senior Government officials.
Prior to his role within HMIC, Mr Dickson served in a number of operational and functional command posts within Lothian and Borders Police before becoming Assistant Chief Constable and then Deputy Chief Constable of the force between 2000 and 2006. Much of his work in the national arena during that time was centred on providing better services to victims and other members of the public and helping to integrate the criminal justice system.
Mr Dickson was also a key player in the creation of the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland. He was also a member of the reference group for Lord Bonomy's High Court Review between 2002 and 2004, the Advisory Group to Ministers on Drug and Alcohol Misuse, and the Licensing Reform Advisory Group in 2005.
Mr Dickson was first appointed to the SCRA Board in 2008 and has served as a member and, latterly, as Chair of the Audit Committee.
This appointment will be for two years and will run from June 1, 2010 until May 31, 2012.
This post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £6,000 for a time commitment of two days per month.
Malcolm Dickson holds no other public appointments.
The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) is the Executive Non-departmental Public Body (NDPB) responsible for taking decisions on whether children and young people referred to the Principal Reporter may require compulsory measures of supervision.
SCRA was established on 1 April 1995 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 and became operational on 1 April 1996. Based in Stirling it has offices across Scotland and has an annual budget of £26m, which includes running costs.
This Ministerial appointment was made in accordance with Schedule 12 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which requires that the Deputy Chair be appointed from one of the members of the Administration.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Malcolm Dickson is not involved in any political activity.