TERMS OF REFERENCE - DRAFT - Commonwealth Games 2026 Policing Oversight Group

The Scottish Police Authority Commonwealth Games 2026 Policing Oversight Group (the Group) is an Advisory Group reporting to the Authority’s Board.

The Oversight Group’s core purpose is to:
Provide assurance and enhanced oversight of progress in the planning and delivery of policing to support Commonwealth Games 2026, focusing on public safety, officer and staff wellbeing, resourcing, operational effectiveness, and sustaining business as usual policing. The Group will have a specific focus on ensuring that the correct funding mechanisms are in place to ensure there is no financial detriment to Police Scotland.
The Group will seek assurance that:

The service can deliver an effective security and policing operation achieved with full cost recovery and no financial detriment to the service.

Police Scotland has suitable plans in place for officer and staff well-being and health and safety throughout the preparation and delivery of the operation.

Police Scotland has suitable plans in place to ensure operational flexibility, and service resilience in communities across Scotland.

Impacts on resources, outcomes and delivery against strategic objectives and Business Plan priorities are understood, taken into account, and mitigated as far as possible.

Police Scotland has plans in place to support a safe and secure environment for attendees, participants, and visitors.

Police Scotland’s commitment to a proportionate human-rights based approach is maintained throughout planning and delivery, including the planned or actual use of tactics and technology.

Police Scotland have a programme in place for effective engagement and communication with officers and staff, Trades Unions and Staff Associations, key partners, stakeholders and the general public.

Operation of the Oversight Group

The Group has delegated authority to request information, documents, and reports from the Chief Constable to fulfil its responsibilities and may request information and input from other relevant stakeholders to inform its considerations.

The work of the Group will be complementary to the oversight of Resources, Risk, Performance, and People related matters which are considered by the Authority’s committees.

Members, Attendees and Secretariat
The Group will be chaired by an Authority Member and be Authority Member led. Each meeting will be attended by at least two Authority Members, including the Chair of the Oversight Group.

Attendees

Meetings will be attended by the Authority’s Chief Executive; the nominated Police Scotland Lead / Gold Commander for the operation; Police Scotland staff and officers as required; and representatives from the Authority’s Corporate team.

HMICS will be invited to attend regularly as an observer.

Representatives from Authority Committees, HMICS, and other organisations, partners or groups may be invited to attend to inform the Group’s considerations, at the discretion of the Chair.

Secretariat
Secretariat support will be provided by the Authority’s Corporate Governance Team.

Frequency, operation, and reporting from meetings
There will be a regular programme of meetings, the frequency of which will be determined by the Chair.

A record of the meeting and action log will be produced and circulated to Group attendees following each meeting.

The Chair of the Oversight Group will report in public on the work of the Group at Authority Meetings.