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This strategic review gives an independent assessment by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) of Police Scotland’s approach to planning for the policing of the Commonwealth Games 2026.
It considers the state, effectiveness and efficiency of policing arrangements at this stage of preparation, and the evolving nature of planning activity as delivery approaches.
In line with our terms of reference, we provided high-level feedback to Police Scotland during the course of our review, giving details on areas that required further development prior to the Commonwealth Games beginning on 23 July 2026.
This report outlines our key findings and makes just one recommendation for Police Scotland
Additional
- Police Scotland has established a strong and credible foundation for the policing of the Commonwealth Games 2026. Strategic leadership is clear and sustained, with robust Gold, Silver and Bronze command arrangements supported by effective governance, structured scrutiny and well‑embedded internal and external assurance mechanisms.
- Planning activity is well advanced and appropriately mature for this stage of preparation. Operational planning is intelligence-led, risk aware and informed by significant learning from previous major events. The early appointment of experienced commanders and a well‑resourced central planning team has supported continuity, consistency and operational credibility.
- Arrangements for the management of threat, risk and harm represent a notable strength. Intelligence, counter‑terrorism and protective security functions are well integrated within planning and governance structures, supported by strong national and international partnerships and tested through recent high‑profile events.
- Police Scotland has adopted a proportionate and forward‑looking approach to assurance, testing and exercising. A structured programme of internal, specialist and multi‑agency exercising is in place and has already informed planning refinement. However, some assurance over fully integrated, organiser‑led command and control arrangements remains dependent on planned future activity.
- Resource planning and workforce readiness are generally effective and well governed. Early workforce identification, clear deployment models and strong integration between planning, resourcing and wellbeing functions provide confidence that Games‑related demand can be met while sustaining business‑as‑usual policing, albeit within a context of continued organisational pressure.
- Staff wellbeing is treated as integral to operational effectiveness. Learning from previous events has been embedded within planning, logistics and governance arrangements, with clear mechanisms in place to monitor and respond to emerging welfare issues during delivery.
- Partnership working is a consistent positive feature of planning for the Games. Police Scotland maintains constructive and appropriately challenging relationships with the Organising Company, SPA, local authorities and blue‑light partners. Some organiser‑led elements are yet to be finalised, but the risks associated with these are recognised, governed and actively managed.
- A few areas require continued attention as preparations move towards delivery. These include finalising and testing aspects of the Games‑wide concept of operations, venue‑level command and control, information system interoperability, organiser‑led exercising, and completion of key agreements.
- There are several measures in place to assess the effectiveness of the operation which should be continually reviewed to ensure learning is captured, shared and considered for future events.
- Taken together, these findings indicate that Police Scotland is well positioned at this stage of preparation. The identified areas for development are consistent with the maturity of planning some months ahead of delivery and do not undermine confidence in overall preparedness.