This report is the result of a thematic review of intelligence and information sharing in Scottish policing.
Number | Recommendation |
|---|---|
1 | HMIC recommends that forces review the position of data protection officers and their staff within their organisational structures, with a view to aligning these more closely to the management of operational policing so as to promote an enabling attitude that will assist core business. |
2 | HMIC recommends that the Scottish Executive consider nominating or establishing a single agency with responsibility for creating a confidential child and vulnerable adult protection registry for each child protection committee area (or combination of two or more) for the purpose of: (a) collating all information and intelligence from any public service which could give rise to concern about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult residing in that area; (b) regularly monitoring the information on each child and vulnerable adult; (c) applying strict rules of confidentiality to such of that information and intelligence which cannot be shared with others unless in exceptional circumstances, and perhaps only then with the consent of the information source (e.g. health information); (d) providing a ‘single shared assessment’ of concerns whenever certain criteria are met, with or without information restricted according to prescribed rules, which require joint consideration of a case; and (e) activating the joint consideration of cases. |
2B | HMIC recommends that the Scottish Executive consider legislating to place a duty on all public services to provide all and any information and intelligence about a child or vulnerable adult which has come to their notice and which could give rise to concern about the welfare of any child or vulnerable adult to the single agency proposed in recommendation 2A. |
3 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS consult with the Scottish Executive to determine whether chief constables should remain as data controllers of all SCRO databases, with a view to arriving at the best solution to promote the accuracy, quality and integrity of data and maximise efficiencies in working practices. |
4 | HMIC recommends that , as a matter of urgency, ACPOS consult directly with all relevant partner agencies with a view to giving criminal justice partners greater access to the criminal history system, while maintaining security and data quality. |
5 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS consider how to improve the two-way flow of intelligence between the police and the prison service. |
6 | HMIC recommends that each force produce and publish an intelligence and information sharing strategy which contains the core elements suggested within this report. |
7 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS provide a strategic overview for developing information sharing within each of its business areas, in order to promote a corporate approach in accordance with the Scottish Executive’s vision for data sharing across the public sector. |
8 | HMIC recommends that forces and the Scottish Executive encourage principal service delivery partners concerned with community safety and anti-social behaviour to adopt the principles of the National Intelligence Model as a business model for this work. |
9 | HMIC recommends that the protocol templates from the Management of Police Information Sharing manual be adopted as the basis for information sharing protocols throughout Scotland, to promote corporacy and consistency. |
10 | HMIC recommends that information sharing protocols incorporate a risk assessment model, to ensure that the quality of information shared is such that the objective of the information sharing can be accomplished. |
11 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS and SPSA consider creating a process to ensure an outward facing approach to future information and communications technology (ICT) development, so that opportunities for electronic intelligence and information sharing with other agencies are not missed. |
12 | HMIC recommends the use of single points of contact (SPOC) to share sensitive information between the police and partner agencies. |
13 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS consult with the Scottish Executive and partner agencies to deliver a comprehensive guidance framework for public service information sharing. |
14 | HMIC recommends that ACPOS acknowledge a training need for information sharing and seek training aimed at establishing an enabling ethos for intelligence and information sharing across the police service. |