Annual report 2023-24

We conduct our business in accordance with our values, acting independently and proportionately, focusing on how the needs of the public are served by Police Scotland, its stakeholders and the partners with whom it works. We work in an open and transparent way, and are fully accountable for what we do. We make efforts to work with cross-sector scrutiny partners and take account of the Crerar report from 2007.

Our inspection framework

Our inspection framework is based on the EFQM Excellence Model and Best Value characteristics. The purpose of the framework is to support lead and associate inspectors to take a common and objective approach to assessing policing in Scotland. The framework can be used in its entirety, or selected and adapted so that the key themes and sub-elements reflect the purpose of the inspection to be undertaken.

During 2021, we carried out a review of our corporate plan and inspection framework, together with our methodologies, governance and joint working with other public and scrutiny bodies. Our framework continues to be reviewed following each inspection and at the conclusion of our evaluation of the inspection meeting. This allows for continuous improvement of our methodology and lessons to be learned from those we inspect and work alongside. Our corporate plan, covering the period 2021-24 was published in February 2022, setting out our strategic objectives and outcomes.

During the course of our review, we conducted extensive consultation to inform our scrutiny plan which, for the first time, spanned three years (from 2022-25). This resulted in an improvement plan that will be the focus of our inspection team over the period to 2025 and will be subject to regular reviews to ensure that the plan is meeting the risks and challenges faced in Scotland. It is our intention to start the consultation for the next scrutiny plan and a revision to our corporate plan in the third quarter of 2024-25 financial year, publishing the next plan in late March 2025.

Scrutiny plan 2022-25

Our scrutiny plan sets out how HMICS aims to meet its statutory purpose to inquire into the state, efficiency and effectiveness of both Police Scotland and the SPA. It was published in terms of Section 75 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and sets out our scrutiny priorities from April 2022 to March 2025.

This plan is designed to provide a forward look for planning purposes for Police Scotland and the SPA and will be kept under review during the three-year period to ensure that any new and emerging issues can be addressed appropriately. Our approach is to support Police Scotland and the SPA to deliver high-quality, effective services that are continually improving, effective, and responsive to local needs and providing best value.

In September, we will begin public and stakeholder consultation to consider the areas of most interest to the public and professionals, for scrutiny in the next three-year period. Our approach will build upon our previous plan and articulate the understanding we have from inspections, stakeholder engagement and wider environmental scanning.

Partnership working

We continue to work closely with our partners in our role as a member of the Strategic Scrutiny Group (SSG). The SSG is to be replaced by the Strategic Public Sector Scrutiny Network (SPSSN), which will continue to promote collaboration and identify shared risks, priorities and learning among Scotland’s main public sector scrutiny bodies, holding public bodies to account and supporting improvement in the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of public services for the people of Scotland. Scrutiny bodies involved include the Accounts Commission; Audit Scotland; Education Scotland; the Care Inspectorate; Healthcare Improvement Scotland; His Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland; His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland; His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland; and the Scottish Housing Regulator.

As a member of the UK National Preventative Mechanism (NPM), we continue to contribute to the UK’s response to its international obligations under the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).