Summary Report form Policing Performance Committee

MAIN ITEMS OF BUSINESS

Operational Policing Issues

Performance Reporting, including progress on the annual police plan

Public Confidence and Partnership Activity

Police Scotland Improvement Plans on HMICS recommendations

SIPR annual report

KEY ISSUES RAISED

Operational Policing

Digitally Enabled Policing programme - Members were provided with an update which included detail regarding Mobile Working, Body Worn Video (BWV) and Core Operational Solutions (COS). Members were invited to attend a demonstration of COS in the New Year.

The Committee welcomed Police Scotland’s commitment and endeavours to accelerate the BWV programme where possible, taking in to account the reliance on an uplift in resourcing, a robust procurement plan and governance undertaken to achieve this. Members acknowledged the critical dependencies required for the BWV roll out, including Digital Evidence Sharing Capability and network capacity and infrastructure. Police Scotland anticipated that the BWV roll out will commence division by division around 7-8 Months after the procurement process has been through governance.

Members were assured that identification and realisation of benefits will be captured by the BWV benefits team and extended an invitation for Members to see this in practice.

Police Scotland updated members on the timeline for Core Operational Solutions. Police Scotland advised that Phase 2 of this should be completed by the end of 2024 with Phase 3 currently in planning.

Cyber Kiosk - Members requested that a report be brought to a future committee that details the necessity and proportionality of any additional functionality of Cyber Kiosks, including safeguards, risks and efficiency improvements.

Policing in a Digital World - Members welcomed the update and acknowledged the increasing demand in this area along with the borderless nature of these crimes. Police Scotland provided a comprehensive update of the budget and resourcing challenges and its commitment to focus on the issues with the biggest impact, namely, fraud and online child sexual abuse.

 Performance Reporting

Quarterly Policing Performance Report (Q2) – members were updated on work being carried out to understand the impact of the cost of living crisis on acquisitive crime, and were supportive of this proactive approach.   Members expressed concern about the continued rise in fraud/cyber enabled crimes and the recent performance in relation to road deaths.   With regards to C3 call handling data, Police Scotland advised that they have been able to answer more 999 and 101 calls within 10 seconds than the UK average, but this still requires improvement and resourcing remains a challenge.   Members reiterated their desire to see linkage between performance data and the decisions taken on prioritisation of resources in response to this. 

Five-Year Performance Framework development Terms of Reference – Members were supportive of the model being used to develop a longer term, consolidated performance framework, agreeing with the direction described in the terms of reference and setting their expectations for the work. Members requested that Police Scotland consider how disaggregated data will be explicitly included in this framework and to report back to the Committee on how this will be achieved.

Annual Police Plan – Mid Year Progress Report - Members acknowledged the consolidation of this report and discussion focussed on whether progress is on track and will change from ‘ongoing’ to ‘completed’. The current reporting format does not give assurance that activities currently underway will be delivered by year end as expected.  Members welcomed the commitment to reporting differently in future and look forward to seeing the year- end report in June. 

ICVS Quarterly Report - Scott Ross provided an overview of and Members appreciated listening to the experience of ICVS Volunteer, Morag Costello. Her comments around the level of support the volunteers receive from their coordinators were welcomed and both the Committee and Police Scotland acknowledged concerns she raised regarding access to washing facilities, food storage and breakfast items. Members thanked the visitors for their dedication and valuable contribution to the oversight of Policing. 

 Public Confidence and Partnership Activity

Naloxone Update - Members were provided with an overview of the report and noted that the training will now be rolled out to around 12,500 officers (including probationers). Members acknowledged that Scottish Government is fully funding the current project but expressed concern on the sustainability of funding for future years.  . Committee requested that a report be brought to a future committee on longer term evaluation on the value of this project, detailing the positive cultural change in the views of officers and their testimonies, to aid the Authority’s understanding of the importance of this roll out.

Spiking Update - Members welcomed the update from ACC Smith, but expressed concern on the prolonged analysis period being described.   ACC Smith advised that a triage process is now in place which has reduced the length of time for forensic assessment to take place and members were assured that there has been no evidence of spiking through injection.  Members welcomed the wider activity in this area, particularly partnership activity with the hospitality and higher education sectors. 

Online Child Sexual Abuse Update - Members discussed Digital Forensics, collaboration and partnership work, campaign activity, staff wellbeing, risk appetite and the scale and complexity of the overall challenge. Members asked that Police Scotland provide a report to a future committee that explores the types of technology that might be used, but isn’t currently agreed or approved, in order that the Authority can lend its support and endorsement moving forward providing the appropriate safeguards are in place. 

SPA Corporate Parenting Strategy - Members received an update from Sam Curran and echoed the disappointment that the care-experienced Modern Apprentice vacancy had been postponed until the release of the SPA budget.

Police Scotland’s Corporate Parenting Strategy - Chief Supt Richards provided the update and Members welcomed the comprehensive update on the five key themes and discussed the types of engagement in progress with young people. Members asked whether a Children’s Rights Impact Assessment will be included in this activity and Police Scotland advised they will seek an answer from PPCW and provide this to the Committee.

SIPR Annual Report - The SIPR Director provided Members with an overview of how SIPR is ‘maximising pathways to impact’, with a focus on translating evidence in to practice.  Members welcomed a focus on building evidence of the impact of academic research on operation policy and practice.