HMICS Annual Report 2021-2022

30 June 2022

This report outlines how HMICS has carried out its statutory function for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 during a period of ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic and has sought to improve policing across Scotland while also reassuring the public of the actions of Police Scotland and the SPA.

It also contains the reflections of HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland on the state of policing in Scotland during 2021-22 and considers some of the challenges that lie ahead.

This is the first report from Craig Naylor, as HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, and reflects on an inspection year overseen by his predecessor Gillian Imery, QPM. 

By April 2021 the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had been recognised for over a year, with varying levels of restrictions imposed on the people of the UK and the wider world. The terrible impact on families and communities from deaths, Long Covid symptoms and restrictions that impacted on their wellbeing had lasted far longer than initially anticipated. The search for a vaccine was ongoing at the start of this period and - while this has now proved effective - the emergence of new variants has required the re-imposition of restrictions  In this challenging environment, Police Scotland continued to deliver services, whilst working with new and emerging restrictions and government guidance and legislation. 

HMICS planned inspection of the implementation of the Contact Assessment Model for incoming call demand within Contact, Command and Control Division (C3) was postponed from the previous scrutiny year to enable an assessment of the national roll out, with this inspection continuing into the current inspection year (2022-23).

HMICS looked at how it approached reports, through research, benchmarking and interviews to develop an improvement plan that has been incorporated into a three year Corporate Plan 2021-2024. The aim of this work was to ensure the organisation continued to produce scrutiny reports that are of value to all stakeholders and improving policing across Scotland.

Staff at HMICS carried out joint inspections and worked with colleagues from a variety of partner agencies, particularly HM inspectorates of prisons, prosecution and fire, the Care Inspectorate, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner.

This annual report summarises all of the inspection activity carried out during 2021-22.

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Annual report