Status of all recommendations

Police Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service should raise awareness of the roles, and responsibilities of police officers and members of police staff involved in the notification, revocation and revocation cancellation process of offenders released on home detention curfew in Scotland. This should extend to the use of police powers when an offender is deemed to be ‘unlawfully at large’.

Police Scotland should ensure that police officers and members of police staff involved in the management and administration of home detention curfew notifications, revocations and cancellation of revocations are fully conversant with the roles and responsibilities outlined in the standard operating procedures and are appropriately supported, experienced, trained and have access to core police information systems.

Police Scotland, in partnership with key stakeholders, should develop a strategy and supporting implementation plan for covert policing, which provides for a sustainable model of undercover policing and contributes towards the delivery of Policing 2026.

Police Scotland should ensure that a dedicated and trained covert operations manager-undercover (COM-UC) who has day to day responsibility for the Special Operations Unit (SOU) is maintained.

Police Scotland should demonstrate a process to ensure that undercover officers comply with and uphold the principles and standards of professional behaviour set out in Police Scotland’s code of ethics.

Police Scotland should introduce an effective tasking and co-ordination process that supports the release of trained undercover officers from local police divisions and departments.

Police Scotland should enhance the training for senior investigating officers to include the management of proactive intelligence-led operations. This should include the use and conduct of undercover officers and the requirements under RIP(S)A,  codes of practice, disclosure, the management of intelligence and reference to the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) for undercover policing.

Police Scotland should introduce effective processes to ensure that the COM-UC in conjunction with the senior investigating officer is actively involved in the risk assessment of material collected by the undercover officer.