Review of HMIC Inspections of Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) and Fingerprint Bureau following Scottish Parliament Justice 1 Committee request
Number | Recommendation |
|---|---|
1 | Recommendations made by HMCIC in inspection reports are often too ill defined. Future inspection procedures should result in SMART (Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-framed) Recommendations that have an outcome focus. |
2 | Some HMCIC Recommendations within a report on an inspected body are directed at other agencies and subsequently the inspected body has little or no control over their implementation. HMCIC should ensure that all Recommendations are entirely deliverable by the inspected body. |
3 | The relevance of HMCIC Suggestions, given that they carry less weight and are often even more ill defined than Recommendations, is seriously questioned. HMCIC should remove the category of Suggestions from the tool kit available to HMIC and staff officers when undertaking inspections of any type. |
4 | Areas for Review, like Recommendations, are often too ill defined. Future inspection procedures should result in SMART Areas for Review that have an outcome focus. |
5 | The Scottish Executive has not routinely played as active a role in following through HMIC reports as it possibly could. HMCIC should request that the Scottish Government engage more actively in the process of Force improvement by seeking Action Plans from Police Boards and Authorities following inspection reports. |
6 | Police Boards/Authorities have not been given guidance since devolution in how best to engage with HMIC procedures. In particular, HMCIC should work with the Scottish Executive to develop new guidelines for Police Boards/Authorities to assist them in responding to HMIC inspection reports. |
7 | The range of judgements open to HMCIC when evaluating an inspected body’s progress is too limited. HMCIC should move towards a graduating scale when considering progress. This scale would better reflect work done by inspected bodies in achieving their outcome-focussed recommendations. |
8 | The timing of inspections and reviews has been too rigid and did not necessarily reflect any risk assessment of performance. HMCIC should change the arrangements surrounding the timing of inspections and reviews to one based on an assessment of risk, linked to performance. |
9 | A high turnover of staff leads to discontinuity and a loss of skills. HMCIC should explore the opportunities to engage permanent inspection staff. |
10 | There is no real method of sanction other than measures that are at best draconian. HMCIC should undertake a diagnostic review of the principles and benefits relating to support and sanction within the scope of HMCIC inspection, and thereafter provide guidance and support to Police Boards in respect of their findings. |