Further Detail on Report Topic

On 13^th July 2022, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Scotland (HMICS) published the Terms of Reference for their Assurance Review with the aim to ‘assess the state, efficiency and effectiveness of the arrangements in relation to the processes which are in place for obtaining, analysing and reporting toxicology samples obtained for Section 4 and Section 5A Road Traffic Act 1988 cases’.

HMICS has concluded their detailed Assurance Review and published their report on their findings on 25^th April 2023. HMICS made 25 recommendations for improvement.

In response to the publication of the HMICS report, Forensic Services, SPA and Police Scotland developed action plans to address the recommendations where the organisations were the identified Action Leads.

Good progress continues to be made in terms of Forensic Services, SPA and Police Scotland addressing the recommendations, with nine recommendations closed by HMICS, to date.

Detailed updates were provided to the Forensic Services Committee on 30 October 2023, 05 February 2024, 07 May 2024, 06 August 2024 and 28 October 2024.

Since the last Forensic Services Committee meeting, good progress has been made in relation to the recommendations, and further updates are provided to HMICS regularly, through the Strategic Oversight Board. 

Forensic Services and Police Scotland are focusing activity on a number of recommendations linked to the reintroduction of the sis-month timeline on 30 November 2024.  It is anticipated a number of recommendations will be submitted for closure by the end of Q1 2025/26.

The appendix provides a summary of updates regarding recommendations since the previous report to the Forensic Services Committee.