Strategic review of the Scottish Police Authority

1. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) committed to a strategic review of the Scottish Policing Authority (SPA) as part of its Scrutiny Plan 2022-25.

2. HMICS has consistently set out a position expressing a need for a balanced system of governance and accountability for policing in Scotland. Our reports demonstrate that governance over policing is a complex endeavour, with an extensive landscape of stakeholders attempting to exert influence and accountability. We accept that any system of governance is likely to have associated risks and issues, but believe that it should be possible for a country the size of Scotland, with a single national police service, to successfully implement an effective and efficient model.

3. The SPA was established under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (‘the Act’) and its main functions are:

• To maintain the Police Service
• To promote the policing principles
• To promote and support continuous improvement in the policing of Scotland
• To keep under review the policing of Scotland
• To hold the Chief Constable to account for the policing of Scotland.

4. Since 2012, HMICS has conducted four inspections of the SPA:

• Assurance Review of Scottish Police Authority Forensic Toxicology Provision (2023)
• Thematic Inspection of the Scottish Police Authority (2019)
• Thematic Inspection of the Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services (2017)
• Thematic Inspection of the Scottish Police Authority - Phase 1 Review of Openness and Transparency (2017).

5. Since our last inspection of the SPA in 2019, there have been major changes including a new executive and staffing structure, a new Chair, a permanent Chief Executive and new board members. While a full, detailed inspection was not proportionate at this time, it is important that we continue to apply regular focus to the SPA and the effectiveness of its new arrangements.

6. The overall aim of this strategic review is to assess the state, efficiency and effectiveness of the SPA in fulfilling its core role and meeting its statutory obligations. The review takes the format of a validated self-evaluation, an approach designed to encourage reflection by the SPA and its continuous improvement, while ensuring an element of independent assurance on its core role and its governance.

7. The specific objectives of our review were to assess the SPA’s journey of improvement since our 2019 inspection, and to provide assurance on:

• The effectiveness of board members in fulfilling their core responsibilities of maintaining policing, supporting continuous improvement and holding the Chief Constable to account
• The results and supporting evidence provided from the SPA best value self-evaluation
• The quality and effectiveness of the SPA’s self-evaluation process
• The readiness of the SPA to fulfil its statutory best value duties.

8. During 2023, the SPA conducted a Best Value self-evaluation which was presented to ARAC in November 2023. It is this self-evaluation that has been assessed as part of this review, so as not to duplicate work already undertaken. The SPA structured its self-evaluation around Best Value in Public Services: Guidance for Accountable Officers (2011). To reflect this, we structured our review around these best value themes. However, this review has not taken the form of a full best value audit or inspection and therefore we have not made an explicit best value judgement of the SPA. Rather than making specific recommendations, we have highlighted where the SPA can develop further in each of the best value areas.

9. In carrying out this review, we have examined the strategic role of the SPA and not inspected day-to-day operations in detail. The SPA self-evaluation that forms the basis of this review is limited to the SPA’s corporate functions. As such, neither the SPA’s Forensic Services nor its Independent Custody Visiting Scotland (ICVS) functions have been inspected. We have, however, examined its role in holding Police Scotland to account and considered our previous inspection findings on the effectiveness of the SPA Forensics Committee (see our Assurance Review of Scottish Police Authority Forensic Toxicology Provision – April 2023).