Scrutiny plan review 2025-28

Year 2 (2026 / 2027)

We are progressing a number of significant areas of work in line with our Scrutiny Plan. This programme will continue alongside the additional activity we have been directed by Ministers to undertake and that scheduled to commence during this inspection year.

Assurance Review of Conduct and Discipline

We will soon publish the Assurance Review of Conduct and Discipline, which examined the governance, procedures and preventative activity relating to misconduct allegations within Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. Both areas continue to attract significant public interest, and securing improvement in these domains is essential to maintaining public confidence in policing and enhancing the experience of officers and staff.

National Review of Group-Based Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

In December 2025, the Scottish Government directed HMICS and the Care Inspectorate, working with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland and any other scrutiny bodies deemed appropriate, to undertake a national review of how public protection partners are working together to identify and act appropriately on instances of group‑based child sexual abuse and exploitation (GB CSAE), and assess Chief Officer Groups’ level of understanding of the current scale and nature of child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland. The scrutiny partners have agreed an 18‑month programme of work, structured across assessment, assurance and improvement phases, reflecting the scale and complexity of this national activity. National review of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation – overview and scope

Commonwealth Games

Glasgow’s hosting of the 2026 Commonwealth Games requires extensive policing preparation. We will undertake a strategic review of planning for the policing of the Games, assessing preparedness, governance and resource arrangements for both the event and core policing. We will also engage with Police Scotland’s Internal Audit function, which is conducting separate assurance activity related to finance, resources and operational controls. Terms of Reference Strategic Review of policing the Commonwealth Games 2026

Crime Audit

Accurate and ethical crime recording is fundamental to public confidence. Following our last Crime Audit in 2020 we will carry out a further national crime audit to assess Police Scotland’s compliance with the Scottish Crime Recording Standard and Counting Rules. This work will make use of data drawn from the new single national crime recording system, enabling a more consistent assessment of practice across Scotland.

Violence – Including Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

Violence and violent crime affect all sections of society. It has long been an operational priority for Police Scotland, but in recent times rates have been rising. This thematic inspection will consider how effectively policing in Scotland addresses violence and violent crime against women and girls. It will also look at how well preventative approaches are embedded and co-ordinated.

Sexual Offender Policing Units (SOPU)

We will inspect Police Scotland’s arrangements for monitoring and managing registered sex offenders in Scotland. Our inspection will examine the efficiency and effectiveness of Police Scotland’s dedicated sex offender policing units, which are based in each of the thirteen police divisions, and the quality of work undertaken with relevant partners.

Year 3 (2027 / 2028)

It is anticipated that the remaining inspections identified in our Scrutiny Plan will begin towards the end of Year 3 and continue into the next scrutiny period (2028–2031). The timing of this activity will be informed by risk, capacity and ongoing consultation with partners to ensure the programme remains current and proportionate.