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Methodology
1. We published terms of reference (ToR) for this inspection in March 2025, outlining our aims and objectives, and the methodology we intended to follow. The ToR detailed our intention to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of Police Scotland’s strategic and operational response to reduce drug-related harm in Scotland, focusing on the following areas:
- Effective leadership and direction provided to police officers and staff.
- Partnership working at national and divisional levels.
- The role of local policing divisions in reducing drug-related harm.
- The rollout of naloxone across frontline police services.
- Balancing a public health approach with enforcement actions to reduce drug-related harms.
- The impact of disruption and enforcement on reducing drug-related crime and illegal drug supply.
2. We undertook a range of activities to evaluate progress against these themes, using the HMICS Inspection Framework and the EFQM model, and considered them in terms of leadership and vision, operational delivery and outcomes.
3. Our inspection methodology included the following:
- A review of existing academic research and open-source documents.
- Examination of Police Scotland’s draft strategy, policy and procedural guidance documents.
- Analysis of Police Scotland’s self-evaluation report and supporting evidence.
- Interviews with over 65 police personnel, as well as representatives from partner organisations and key stakeholders.
- Onsite inspection visits to police divisions in Tayside, Edinburgh, and Greater Glasgow.
- Benchmarking activities to identify good practice and opportunities for shared learning.
- Consideration of the extent to which police performance against strategic and operational targets is co-ordinated, monitored and measured.
4. We have gathered reliable evidence through these activities on police practice and performance, and the role of partner organisations, which informs the analysis presented in this report.