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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
Recommendation
Police Scotland should maintain its robust focus on planning arrangements for the Commonwealth Games 2026, while working closely with key partners. By addressing the following areas for development, it can build on the positive progress made during the early stages of planning for the event.
Areas for development
Governance, assurance and risk
- Maintain development of police concept of operations, outlining clear command protocols. (Resolved)
- Progress strategic multi-agency Gold group meeting. (Resolved)
- Work required to align operations and share learning from Organising Company and Scottish Multi‑Agency Resilience Training and Exercising Unit (SMARTEU) testing and exercising. (Ongoing)
- Conclude the Delivery Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Police Scotland and the Organising Company. (Ongoing)
- Progress testing and exercising of Police Operations Command Centre/Multi-agency Command Centre/Games Operational Centre arrangements including CLIO (Central Logging of Intelligence and Operations)/RAVEN alignment – ensure all partners are kept informed. (Ongoing)
Operational planning, logistics and preparedness
- Maintain engagement with venue security partners to ensure clear understanding of Command, Control and Communications (C3) arrangements and (Ongoing)
- Finalise mutual aid command arrangements and contingencies. (Ongoing)
- Finalise health and safety arrangements for the event. (Ongoing)
- Progress equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy for the event. (Resolved)
Business as usual, local policing and community engagement
- Continued monitoring of wider demand pressures (including parallel events) will be necessary to maintain business as usual (BAU). (Ongoing)
Specialist policing functions
- Progress communication strategy and planning with Organising Company and partners in the event of sensitive incidents/issues. (Resolved)
- As part of post-event analysis and learning, compare post-event data (crime, counter terrorism reports, arrests, disorder, suspicious activity) to pre-event intelligence picture. (Ongoing)