This inspection, which forms part of our published scrutiny programme, is the first in our Local Policing+ inspection programme and follows on from our pilot inspection of Fife Division. The learning from the pilot has been carried forward to ensure a robust evidence-led inspection that aims to assess the state, effectiveness and efficiency of Local Policing.
Effective local policing is fundamental to the success of Scottish policing. It is the part of policing that interacts with the public on a daily basis and is essential in building good relations with persons, localities and communities in Scotland. Strong local relationships strengthen the legitimacy of Police Scotland to carry out its function and support communities to improve their safety and well-being. Effective local scrutiny and engagement are also essential to the success of policing, through the identification and agreement of local priorities and holding the local commander to account for their delivery.
Localism has been reflected within the three benefits identified from Police Reform, namely:
(i) to protect and improve local services,
(ii) to create more equal access to specialist support and national capacity, and
(iii) to strengthen the connection between police services and communities.
We have therefore taken the opportunity during this inspection to comment on the extent to which these reform objectives are being achieved.
Number | Recommendation |
|---|---|
1 | Police Scotland should ensure that reports containing statistical information relating to complaints about the police are supplied to all local scrutiny committees. The reports should contain sufficient contextual information to be meaningful to committees. |
2 | Police Scotland should review its engagement process for the development of local policing plans to ensure timely and meaningful involvement by Local Authorities in the identification and setting of local priorities. |
3 | The Divisional Commander should work with each local scrutiny group to assist in improving awareness of policing. |
4 | Police Scotland should progress its interim arrangements for a consistent national approach to police officer and police staff appraisal for 2015/16 and expedite its plans to fully deliver a robust national Performance and Appraisal System by 2016/17. |
5 | The Scottish Police Authority should commission the planned Police Scotland staff survey as soon as practicable and ensure that this is undertaken independently. |
6 | The Divisional Commander should incorporate the proposed review of operational base levels into a wider review of the roles and responsibilities of community and response policing teams that takes account of the views of officers, staff and stakeholders. |