Project Updates

Operating Model 

We remain committed to implementation of our new operating model, as far as possible within financial constraints, seeking to minimise impact to our people as far as possible whilst maintaining service delivery. 

• Resource, and financial challenges, have impacted upon the pace of implementation, however, we continue to make progress with our phased approach for transitioning to our new operating model.
• Mixed discipline reporting teams have been established in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, laying the foundation for building a multi-skilled, flexible and responsive resource pool across Forensic Services.
• Further work is ongoing to optimise case routing across the organisation, with significant progress already made in the digitisation of the internal fingerprint workflow.
• Following the successful delivery of key implementation milestones, an interim health check of the project is being planned as supported by our colleagues in the Police Scotland Portfolio Assurance Team.

FS COS & Data Migration

The Forensic Services Core Operating System (FS COS) Project will deliver a fully integrated & future-proofed single operating system, the migration of all data for in-scope systems and the decommissioning of un-supported legacy systems as required.

• Appendix B contains indicative phasing activity & draft high-level timeline for FBC submission.
• Definitive timeline will be informed by output of updated market sounding exercise and consolidation of final project plan.
• Work on consolidation of technical requirements continues to progress.
• A Sourcing Strategy developed by Police Scotland Procurement has now been approved by project board and published.

Criminal Toxicology – Long Term Sustainable Model

• Development of the Initial Business Case (IBC) exploring options for a long-term sustainable model continues to make progress an on track for delivery as per programme road map.
• Demand forecasting activity undertaken by Police Scotland now complete and informing development of the financial case.
• IBC update provided to members at recent development day with positive feedback received.

Data Governance

Our Data Governance project will deliver robust data management processes to ensure full compliance with legislative requirements (split into two work streams, Data Protection Act and GDPR).

• A reduction in file size retention against the identified categories continues to be delivered across Forensic Services.
• The data management framework for GDPR compliance and monitoring is now embedded within the organisation.
• Transition to business-as-usual monitoring of GDPR was approved at project board and will be formally closed as a workstream within the data governance project once approved at Programme Board.
• System developments for compliance with Data Protection legislation are now being scoped and planned.

RDI Strategy Design, Prioritisation & Delivery

Our RDI Strategy including stakeholder engagement & prioritisation process will ensure that the research & innovation that is planned & delivered meets strategic objectives across the Justice System.

• The RDI stakeholder analysis has been completed. Internal / External focus groups and design sessions now in planning.  Offers of support with session design and facilitation from SIPR, Police Scotland and SPA Corporate colleagues are very much appreciated.
• The Value of Forensic Science Researcher is now in post. This work focuses on the value of forensic science across the justice ecosystem with an alignment to the work on Violence Against Women & Girls. Appendix C includes timeline and outputs for phase 1 of this activity.

Benefits Realisation

In spite of approval of the Full Business Case (FBC) for the new operating model for Forensic Services there was insufficient funding available within 2023/24 to provide the upfront investment required to implement the new model at pace and in line with the timescales in the Full Business Case.

As part of the budget discussions for 2025/26, Forensic Services have agreed not to progress further implementation of the model that requires additional investment in the revenue budget for the organisation. To make further progress Forensic Services must continue to work on delivering efficiencies and maximise the benefits that are being delivered through the changes undertaken to date. Where year-on year-savings can be identified this will allow the further elements of the model to be implemented.

Specialist resource has now been made available from Police Scotland to support a full review of benefits profiles and realisation plans, as well as tracking and monitoring mechanisms in place.  Focus will be on evidencing links between efficiencies, re-investment in implementation of our operating model along with benefits for criminal justice partners and the wider Scottish Public.

Appendix D contains a high-level summary of the key benefits & opportunities associated with our change programme and as referenced in the original FBC.  Initial review activity has revisited these key benefits seeking to better evidence measurable links to outcomes already delivered / in delivery or yet to be started.

As a result of progress made on delivery of our change programme,  a number of benefits have begun to be realised.