In our Scrutiny Plan 2018-19, HMICS set out our intention to undertake a thematic review of Police Scotland’s approach to establishing its annual policing priorities, the operational delivery of the annual police plan and its alignment to the strategic police plan; ‘Policing 2026 - Serving a Changing Scotland’. The aim of this thematic review is to examine:

• how effective the arrangements are for establishing the national policing priorities as outlined in the annual police plan 2018-19
• how effective the arrangements are, nationally and locally, for the operational delivery of the annual police plan 2018-19, including comment on the contribution the plan has towards improving the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities in Scotland
• how effective the alignment of the annual police plan is with the strategic police plan; ‘Policing 2026 - Serving a Changing Scotland'.