Response

By means of explanation, the comments made at the Authority’s meeting on 26 September in relation to “Official Accredited Statistics” relate to Annual Accredited Recorded Crime Statistics published by the Scottish Government. These accredited statistics are informed by Police Scotland’s management data published quarterly.   

You asked for “Details of the relevant statistics to which Mr Hay was referring to within the Police Service of Scotland”

Details of the relevant official statistics referred to are available on the Scottish Government’s website - Annual Accredited Recorded Crime Statistics. The most recent management data provided by Police Scotland to inform the Official Recorded Crime Statistics are available on Police Scotland’s website - Quarter 1 Force Quarterly Bulletin 2024/25. Quarter 1 Management Information Report 2024/25 - Aggregated File

You asked for “Details of the relevant statistics to which Mr Hay was referring to across the relevant forces in England and Wales, as well as details of the forces that directly relate to his comments.”

The statistics referred to in England and Wales are available on the Office for National Statistics’ website - Crime in England and Wales

In addition, the Office of Statistics Regulation published a report in May 2024 – The quality of police recorded crime statistics in England and Wales.

You asked for “Details of SPA internally produced documents which may exist to support the comments of Mr Hay”

An email dated 18 September 2024 sent to the Chair and Chief Executive with a briefing note attached titled “Recorded Crime and Official Statistics accreditation in the UK September 2024” is provided in the Appendix.

An email chain dated from 16 to 18 September 2024 between Strategy and Performance team members while developing the briefing note is provided.

Some third party personal data has been redacted as this is considered exempt in terms of the Act. This exemption is absolute and does not require application of the public interest test. While you may have a legitimate interest in disclosure of this information, it is our view that those interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects.

You asked for “Details of any other documents in the possession of the SPA which support the comments of Mr Hay”.

The Scottish Police Authority holds no further information than that provided.

You asked for “Details of any and all correspondence relating to any pre meet of the SPA (with or without Police Scotland) in the days preceding the formal meeting of the Board. For the avoidance of doubt this includes all emails (internal and external), informal briefing notes, as well as hand written notes, minutes and draft minutes - but only insofar as they are relevant to this specific agenda agenda”.

Item 3 – Chair’s Report to the Board meeting held on 23 September 2024 contained a section titled ‘Self-identification and recording of sex and gender’. This included the following reference:

“Police Scotland should support and maintain the formal accredited ‘official statistics’ status of Scotland’s recorded crime statistics by complying in full with the UK Statistic Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics.”

This report is available on the Authority’s website - Chair Report – September 2024.