Status of all recommendations

SPA Forensic Services should, as a matter of urgency, review current working practices including workload and work allocation for all staff involved in the delivery of drug driving forensic service provision.

SPA Forensic Service managers must ensure they have effective management structures and performance management information in place to ensure proactive oversight and scrutiny in terms of work allocation, demand and capacity assessment, as well as performance.

SPA Forensic Services should work with Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service to establish a pragmatic and realistic approach to report and evidence submission for drug driving, and consider criteria for SPA Forensic Services professional witnesses and opportunities for remote evidence provision.

SPA should review the functionality and membership of the Forensic Services Committee to provide effective and robust governance, providing an effective platform for Police Scotland, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to hold SPA Forensic Services to account in terms of the quality and delivery of service provision.

SPA Forensic Services must prioritise the recruitment of toxicology staff – as outlined in the Forensic Services Operating Model – to ensure current drug driving demand levels can be met in the short term.