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This joint audit by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and Audit Scotland assessed how effectively the Best Value arrangements in policing are demonstrating continuous improvement in delivering the current strategic outcomes, overall vision, and transformation of policing services. Our review examined areas including whether policing has a clear strategic direction, how effectively resources are used to deliver policing, and how well policing is performing. We found policing in Scotland is well managed and led, but more needs to be done to reform the service and make the best use of its resources. Our report outlines key findings and makes seven recommendations designed to support further improvement.
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Appendix 1 - Duty of Best Value
The SPA’s duty to ensure that arrangements are in place to secure Best Value is set out in ministerial guidance to accountable officers for public bodies. This guidance is contained with the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM). Within the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, this requirement also extends to the Chief Constable.
The duty of Best Value, as set out in the SPFM, is:
- to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in performance whilst maintaining an appropriate balance between quality and cost; and, in making those arrangements and securing that balance
- to have regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness, the equal opportunities requirements and to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
The ministerial guidance sets out five generic and two cross-cutting themes (equality and sustainability) which define the expectations placed on accountable officers by the duty of Best Value:
- vision and leadership
- effective partnerships
- governance and accountability
- use of resources
- performance management
- equality
- sustainability.