HMICS Annual Report 2025-26

Body

New recommendations

Closed recommendations

Police Scotland

27

32

Scottish Police Authority

1

1

Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services

1

0

Scottish Government

0

0

Joint

20

4

Recommendation

Impact

Police Scotland should ensure that its Estates Strategy promotes parity and ensures an appropriate standard of facilities are provided across its estate

Police Scotland identified estate transformation as a priority for the next phase of reform, with a focus on developing a more effective and sustainable estate to support current and future policing needs. We noted that there has been considerable investment and a significant amount of work undertaken.

Police Scotland should develop a wellbeing plan that has appropriate governance, structure and activity, reflecting the People Strategy, and delivered equitably across the organisation

The Police Scotland Health and Wellbeing Plan provides a consistent framework for wellbeing initiatives across the organisation. It has incorporated our recommendations, ensuring that arrangements are in place to regularly monitor and report on actions, performance measures and progress.

Police Scotland should implement effective actions to understand and address organisational stressors, including those caused by perceived unfairness in the application of process/procedures

Police Scotland has aligned the World Health Organization (WHO) psychosocial risk factors for workplace mental health with the Your Voice Matters themes, establishing a baseline against which progress and improvements can be measured and reviewed. HM Chief Inspector noted, in particular, progress towards a more engaged and informed approach to wellbeing.

Recommendation

Impact

Police Scotland should streamline the policing response to diary appointments through promoting and embedding a ‘getting it right first time’ approach and defining parameters of acceptable performance.  It should also put systems in place to obtain data and management information on the use and compliance of diary appointments

The Policing for Our Communities Programme (launched May 2025) has demonstrated measurable early benefits. A community hub – introduced as part of the programme – has also contributed to improved service delivery and better outcomes for local communities within its first month of operation. HM Chief Inspector stated that there had been significant improvements in the appointments process and that this, together with improved training, enabled the closure of the recommendation.

Police Scotland should review the role of officers involved in risk assessment and safety planning for domestic abuse incidents to provide national consistency, based on the optimum model, and ensure they are given the appropriate training and support.

The sharing of knowledge and best practice is taking place in the correct forum, and a bespoke safeguarding training course will be incorporated into work being undertaken within a public protection programme.

Police Scotland and the SPA need to ensure that investigative opportunities for digital evidence capture are improved and maximised for domestic abuse offences.

The introduction of body-worn video has had a significant impact on digital evidence capture, with over 100,000 recordings and tens of thousands clips of footage uploaded. HM Chief Inspector stated that both the progress made and future plans are impressive, and should enhance the service provided to victims and the quality of evidence available at court.

Recommendation

Impact

Police Scotland should engage with its criminal justice partners to explore options (including virtual appearances) to reduce the time requirement for officers attending court.

HMICS noted that progress within a short space of time was ‘remarkable’ and coincided with a joint review (with HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland) of citations in the sheriff court. Ongoing engagement between the road policing team and criminal justice partners has demonstrated a drive to change and improve the experience of officers at court, and will be managed as part of a continuous improvement plan.

Police Scotland should engage with Scottish Government to progress a legislative change that will allow the escorting of abnormal loads in Scotland to be carried out by another agency

Raised profile to highlight that Scotland does not benefit from facilities available to forces in the rest of the UK. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, any abnormal load movement on a public road in Scotland must be escorted by a specially trained police officer. A change in legislation has been discussed in the relevant quarters and, while not imminent, HMICS is keen that Police Scotland continues to progress through the legislative process.

Police Scotland should progress the implementation of a road policing performance framework that provides an indication of progress towards achieving the targets set out in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030

A performance framework has been developed (aligned to Scotland’s Road Safety Framework 2030) with a focus on improving outcomes for road users in Scotland.

Police Scotland should implement a process to ensure vehicles are equipped in a consistent manner. The views of officers who will be using the vehicles should be taken into account when considering the type of equipment to be fitted, and how and where it is fitted

Improved governance arrangements for vehicle and operational equipment have been established through a working group, providing greater oversight of equipment requirements, procurement processes and the monitoring of effectiveness. HMICS notes it is encouraging that officers’ views will be taken into account by the working group, providing an opportunity for them to express views on any decisions being taken.

Police Scotland should identify and adopt best practice in the deployment and use of ANPR

Significant progress has been made, as evidenced at the improvement governance board.

Police Scotland should review its policy on the deployment of family liaison officers, to ensure a consistent level of service to people who have been bereaved following a fatal collision

The review undertaken, together with the development and delivery of training for all road policing officers, is welcomed. The involvement of Lifeline Scotland and Brake has been particularly positive and this, combined with the introduction of the Trauma Z Card and the continued rollout of trauma-informed practice training for all police officers, should help to deliver a more consistent and effective service to those bereaved following a fatal road collision.

Recommendation

Impact

With the support and engagement of the advisory panel, Police Scotland should develop and publish a mental health strategy (and delivery plan) that clearly articulates its purpose and vision in dealing with mental health-related incidents and allows the recommendations and areas for development highlighted in this review to be progressed

HMICS had found that Police Scotland was operating without a formal mental health strategy, oversight or governance. In closing this recommendation, we noted that a framework and strategy had been developed, clearly setting out the expectations of police officers and staff in respect of mental health-related incidents.

HMICS had found that Police Scotland was operating without a formal mental health strategy, oversight or governance. In closing this recommendation, we noted that a framework and strategy had been developed, clearly setting out the expectations of police officers and staff in respect of mental health-related incidents.

Satisfactory governance arrangements in place and strategy published.

Police Scotland should take steps to provide ready access to, and encourage the use of, its interim Vulnerable Persons Database (iVPD) by British Transport Police colleagues in Scotland

Benefits and positive impact of partnership working were highlighted in the report. In closing, HM Chief Inspector said that the availability of iVPD data being extended to British Transport Police should be commended.

Recommendation

Impact

The Scottish Government should place into legislation the requirement for all Police Scotland officers and staff to obtain and maintain a minimum standard of vetting clearance and the provision for the Chief Constable to dispense with the service of an officer or staff member who cannot maintain suitable vetting

The Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 placed police vetting on a statutory footing and established a legislative basis for dismissal where an individual is unable to maintain the required vetting clearance. In support of this, the Police Service of Scotland (Vetting) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 1 April 2026, introduced requirements for the periodic re-vetting of constables, and established procedures enabling the Chief Constable to dismiss a constable where there is evidence that they are unable to maintain vetting clearance.

Police Scotland’s policies should allow all levels of vetting clearance to be refused, suspended or withdrawn

The vetting provisions of the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026 and provide a legislative framework allowing all levels of vetting clearance to be refused, suspended or withdrawn. In addition, Police Scotland introduced a new Vetting and Supplier Vetting Standard Operating Procedure, which sets out the processes for the refusal, suspension and withdrawal of all levels of vetting clearance.

Where the Force Executive becomes involved in the decision making of any vetting case (out with the processes described within the Vetting Manual of Guidance) it should report these cases to the SPA Complaints and Conduct Committee for oversight

Police Scotland’s Vetting Standard Operating Procedure was updated, stating that any deviation from guidance for an individual by a Chief Officer will be reported to the SPA Complaints and Conduct Committee by way of a briefing paper for oversight.

Recommendation

Impact

Police Scotland should promote the National Missing Persons Framework’s aims, objectives and commitments to officers and staff across divisions, and emphasise that this underpins its strategic direction.

There has been significant activity promoting the National Missing Persons Framework across Police Scotland, including an event at Tulliallan, updated guidance, communications activity and leadership engagement. This has strengthened organisational awareness of, and commitment to, the Framework's aims and objectives. HMICS acknowledged early indications of a reduction in repeat missing persons and a more trauma-informed approach to service delivery.

Police Scotland should ensure that there is consistent national leadership in place to direct missing persons policy, establish outcome targets and support effective operational delivery.

The reinstatement of the Missing Persons Oversight Board and the inclusion of missing persons as a standing item on the Partnerships and Prevention Oversight Group has strengthened national oversight and governance. Strategic direction, operational practice and the Missing Persons Framework are now communicated more consistently across divisions, supported by governance forums, co-ordinator networks and engagement from the Missing Person Unit, helping to promote a more co-ordinated and consistent approach across Police Scotland.

Police Scotland should re-establish the missing person strategic governance forum to provide scrutiny, oversight and governance for matters relating to the police and partner response to missing persons.

The re-establishment of the Missing Persons Strategic Governance Group has strengthened strategic oversight, scrutiny and governance of missing persons at a national level. Through regular review of performance, trends and operational activity, the group has improved organisational focus on missing persons and enhanced engagement with key partners, supporting a more consistent and co-ordinated approach across Police Scotland.

Police Scotland should bring together all operational practice guidance relevant to missing persons in one place on the police intranet – including protocols and procedures, shared learning, and the national missing persons toolkit – to enable easy access for managers and staff.

Police Scotland’s managers and staff now have easier access to missing persons guidance, protocols, procedures, shared learning and the National Missing Persons Framework through a single microsite prominently featured on the Police Scotland intranet. This has improved access to relevant information and helped promote greater clarity and consistency in the application of missing persons policy and practice.

Police Scotland should develop a role profile and operational guidance for divisional co-ordinators and ensure that the role is supported and enabled to fulfil tasks and responsibilities effectively.

Police Scotland has strengthened the divisional missing person co-ordinator role through the introduction of a nationally agreed role profile, supporting guidance and quality assurance arrangements. This has increased consistency, raised the profile and importance of the role across the organisation, and provided greater support for co-ordinators to improve standards and oversight of missing person investigations.

Police Scotland should develop a version of the National Missing Persons Application that has full functionality on mobile devices, and respond swiftly to any technical problems and potential improvements identified by users.

Enhancements to the National Missing Persons Application have improved mobile functionality and usability, enabling officers to record and access information more effectively in the field. This has supported earlier risk assessment and investigative activity, strengthened data quality and consistency, and increased efficiency in the management of missing person enquiries. While further development of the application is ongoing, the sustained programme of improvements is already making a positive difference to those reporting and investigating missing persons.