Joint review of police custody recommendations

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Inspection reports

26th August 2026

Since 2023 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland have jointly undertaken a programme of inspections aimed at assessing the treatment of individuals detained at police custody centres across Scotland. Our reviews have looked at the physical conditions in which detainees are held, as well as analysing the quality of the custody centres operations at each location, and the healthcare services provided. Having published 10 such joint custody inspection reports to date, in which we made a total of 45 recommendations to Police Scotland and 104 recommendations to NHS boards, we took the decision to carry out a review of the progress made against these recommendations. The findings set out in this report are primarily drawn from our published joint inspection reports and our examination of progress made on recommendations during this review. As part of this joint review, HMICS inspectors also examined custody records on the National Custody System (NCS) to assess operational practice, interviewed custody staff, supervisors and senior officers, and carried out onsite visits to observe custody operations and assess implementation of inspection recommendation in practice. Inspection work carried out by HIS included the analysis improvement plans, evidence submissions and internal risk assessments, as well as undertaking focus groups with key partners to gather system-wide insight and triangulate findings. The resultant report identifies where progress has been made against recommendations and also highlights ongoing challenges. It also makes two new recommendations for Police Scotland concerning its custody operations, and one for NHS boards in relation to healthcare provision within police custody.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) is established under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and has wide ranging powers to look into the ‘state, effectiveness and efficiency’ of both the Police Service of Scotland (Police Scotland) and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). HMICS has a statutory duty to inquire into the arrangements made by the Chief Constable and the SPA to meet their obligations in terms of best value and continuous improvement. If necessary, it can be directed by Scottish Ministers to inspect anything relating to the SPA or Police Scotland as they consider appropriate.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is the national improvement agency for health and social care. It is responsible for supporting healthcare providers to deliver high quality care and scrutinising those services to provide public assurance about the quality and safety of that care.

Places of detention, including police custody centres within the UK, are monitored as part of the human rights treaty: ‘Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT)’. OPCAT requires that all places of detention are visited regularly by a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), an independent body or group of bodies which monitor detainee treatment and conditions. HMICS is one of several bodies making up the NPM in the UK.

Joint HMICS/HIS custody inspections focus on the delivery of custody services by Police Scotland and associated healthcare provision by NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCP) across Scotland. These are underpinned by the joint HIS and HMICS framework to inspect that ensures a consistent, objective and human rights-based approach to the collaborative work.

This review was undertaken by HMICS in terms of Section 74(2)(a) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and is laid before the Scottish Parliament in terms of Section 79(3) of the Act.

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