Strategic review of the Scottish Police Authority

10. The SPA has a strong commitment to self-evaluation to support improvement. Its detailed Best Value self-evaluation exercise 2023-24 has been carried out effectively, involving staff and using appropriate statutory guidance. It has also been transparent in reporting its approach and results and demonstrating clear ownership of the outputs.

11. The SPA recognises the need to further develop its approach to self-evaluating against best value characteristics and has proposed revisions to its scoring system, among other areas for improvement. We consider that future exercises should encompass all of its roles (including its role in holding Police Scotland to account) and should involve wider participation, including of SPA board members and other stakeholders.

14. To deliver the future ambitions for policing, the SPA needs to ensure that there is a clearly defined operating model, a medium-term financial plan and a workforce plan in place, to support a financially sustainable and high-performing police service. It is paramount that the SPA is able to drive the improvements needed across the whole policing system, including using its oversight role to ensure best value and continuous improvement within Police Scotland.

15. In planning to support and challenge Police Scotland in its continuous improvement and best value commitments, there is scope for the SPA to draw upon other existing models, such as the College of Policing Continuous Improvement Self-Assessment Matrix, developed specifically for police leaders, the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Quality Framework for Community Engagement and Participation and the Care Inspectorate Self-evaluation for improvement guide.