Status of all recommendations

Police Scotland should introduce a welfare-based policy for substance misuse testing of active undercover officers. This should provide additional guidance and support to undercover officers to self-disclose alcohol or drug related problems or issues.

Police Scotland should introduce a secure ICT solution for maintaining cover officers’ welfare and policy records.

Police Scotland should establish effective backroom support and office manager roles within the Special Operations Unit.

Police Scotland should introduce an integrated record management solution for the management and supervision of undercover policing.

Police Scotland should strengthen its engagement process with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) around undercover operations, including notification, operational parameters, special measures and disclosure requirements.

Police Scotland, in partnership with the national undercover working group (NUWG), should establish a formal process for the reciprocal notification of cross border undercover operations which includes legend building.

The Scottish Government should review the legal basis for the current agreement between Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and NHS Scotland to deliver healthcare and forensic medical services. This review should inform the nature and need for any refreshed national Memorandum of Understanding between the parties.