A Value Judgement

01 April 2000

This report is the result of a thematic inspection of Best Value within the police service of Scotland

Recommendations:

Number

Recommendation

1

HMIC recommends that forces (ACPOS) examine their strategic response to Best Value and the mechanisms in place to drive the regime forward.

2

HMIC recommends that Chief Constables in conjunction with their Police Authorities review the methodology for the handling, maintaining and reporting of Best Value policy, practice and service reviews.

3

HMIC recommends that a mechanism be established to allow over-arching Best Value service reviews to be undertaken across all relevant activity in Scottish policing. (This will require dialogue between the Scottish Executive, Police Authorities and Forces.)

4

HMIC recommends that Chief Constables review training provision with a view to ensuring service review team members have sufficient knowledge and skills to carry out the function with which they are tasked.

5

HMIC recommends that forces ensure all 'reviews' being conducted are carefully considered for inclusion within the Service Review Schedule and subject to Best Value criteria. It should be a deliberate decision, with reasons, to adopt another methodology.

6

HMIC recommends that good communication of force Best Value review activity is a priority for forces with an active sharing of good practices.

7

HMIC recommend that the Scottish Executive and ACPOS identify procedures and an appropriate technological application that allow for the collection of 'real time' management information.

8

HMIC recommend that forces adopt a rigorous approach to properly costing Best Value service reviews to provide tangible information linking these reviews to ‘benefits’ secured in terms of savings, efficiency gains or improved effectiveness.

9

HMIC recommends that ACPOS debate with the Scottish Executive the issue of timescale for a review of all services and agree an appropriate management of the five-year timeframe.

Publication type: 
Inspection report