Strategic review of the Scottish Police Authority

Our review work has clearly demonstrated a significant difference in the approach and effectiveness of the SPA as a corporate body since our 2019 inspection. There have been real improvements in leadership, governance and accountability – the core statutory role of the Authority. Planning, capacity and capability have all been improved. These improvements have also been acknowledged by external auditors.

We do consider that there remains a risk of varying interpretations of the role, structure and governance arrangements of the SPA, specifically when Chairs and Chief Executives stand down and are replaced. These issues, which became evident in our 2019 inspection, can be partially mitigated by capturing leadership successes, good practice and challenges, and translating these into learning, to ensure that robust structures and processes are in place for subsequent changes in personnel. HMICS also considers that an overlap between the departure of incumbents and the arrival of new appointments is worth consideration by the Scottish Government.

The current strategic policing plan (the three-year Joint Strategy for Policing (2023-26), approved in May 2023) sets out a purpose, values, vision and five strategic outcomes, with supporting objectives for policing in Scotland. One of the specific cultural commitments set out in the strategy is to “promote a culture of change to see a drive for continuous improvement at the heart of every operational team and business area, empowering all officers and staff to be- innovative and improvement-focused in their day-to-day practice”. This essentially captures the best value commitment required of both the SPA and Police Scotland.

We have found good evidence of adherence to this best value commitment within SPA Corporate. But the SPA now needs to consider what further development work is needed to fully meet best value expectations, as well as how it can best continue to support and challenge Police Scotland in both its continuous improvement and best value commitments. In our recent Thematic Inspection of Organisational Culture in Police Scotland (December 2023), we recommended that Police Scotland prioritise the completion of an organisational maturity assessment of continuous improvement, organisational learning and best value, involving all improvement-related functions within the organisation, using this to inform a unified approach. We consider that it is now essential that the SPA, through its statutory role in holding the Chief Constable to account, should apply effective focus to this, alongside the development of a longer-term vision and sustainable model for policing.