Status of all recommendations

Police Scotland and SPA Forensic Services should create a priority forensic analysis protocol that would establish high and standard risk categories for analysis and associated timescales for drug driving cases.

SPA Forensic Services should work with Police Scotland and review the storage and movement of drug driving samples end to end, to ensure that all efficiencies, sample degradation risks, forensic integrity and health and safety matters have been considered and implemented.

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.