HMICS Scrutiny plan 2025-28

We will continue to promote work with other scrutiny bodies and undertake joint inspection activity in areas where Police Scotland or the SPA work in partnership. We will contribute to shared outcomes with others (as set out in the Crerar Review), to support the development of effective and sustainable public services (see the Christie Commission Report).

Potential areas for inspection include:

Best Value

We will produce a joint Best Value audit in collaboration with Audit Scotland in the early part of this scrutiny plan, providing an overarching assessment of policing in Scotland.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 places a duty on the Auditor General for Scotland (AGS) and inspectors of constabulary in Scotland to co-operate and co-ordinate activity with each other, with a view to improving how we carry out our respective functions. Both the AGS and HMCIC are committed to ensuring that our audit contributes to providing assurance that the SPA and Police Scotland are operating efficiently and effectively and delivering Best Value.

Joint inspection of custody centres

We continue to work with Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) across police custody centres in Scotland, to inspect and assess the  quality of custody centre operations and the provision of healthcare to people detained in custody. This is in line with our duty as a member of the National Preventive Mechanism (please see page 21 below for further details).

Since our initial baseline report on Healthcare in Custody was published in January 2023, HMICS and HIS have undertaken inspections of custody facilities in eight local policing areas (at the time of publication of this plan). Subject to ongoing funding, this programme will continue, providing the required assurance in this key area.

Services for children at risk of harm (CARH)

HMICS has a longstanding commitment to collaborate with the Care Inspectorate, HIS and Education Scotland on joint inspections of services for children and young people. We will continue to be active participants in the joint inspection programme, led by the Care Inspectorate.

Adult support and protection (ASP)

Scottish Ministers requested that the Care Inspectorate lead joint inspections of adult support and protection in collaboration with HIS and HMICS. At the time of writing, this programme of work is scheduled for completion in July 2025, but we remain committed to collaborative scrutiny and will continue to work with our partners to drive improvement in this area.