Closures Within Reporting Period

Below is a summary of the actions taken to close the aforementioned recommendations.

Publication Date Remaining Closed since last meeting
Events May 2019 2 1
Hate Crime June 2021 1 2
Domestic Abuse Jan 2023 10 2
Workforce Planning Aug 2022 5 1
Mental Health Demand Oct 2023 12 2
Custody (D&G) Nov 2023 1 2
Lanarkshire April 2023 4 2
Tayside July 2023 1 1
Fife Mar 2024 9 1

Events
Recommendation What we did and the impact
R3 – Police Scotland should introduce a robust method for recording the full impact of events on policing, including a post event review of the resource deployed to determine if it was proportionate and necessary. A forward-looking events and football coordination group has been established focussing on high-demand events. From this, engagement with Commanders and Local Policing Divisions aim to ensure proportionate resourcing profiles, which has seen a reduction in resources allocated to some events. This is supported by a new organisational learning framework which ensures learning from events is shared and considered, helping to achieve consistency in planning.

This more sustainable, adaptable approach to the resourcing of events will help to maintain effective service delivery across communities while events are taking place and could contribute to improved officer wellbeing through reduced abstraction and shift changes.

Hate Crime
Recommendation What we did and the impact
R5 – Police Scotland should ensure that it maximises the benefits of strong partnership relationships and shares the knowledge of diversity issues developed by police officers and staff working in Safer Communities roles at national and local levels. Through the creation of Policing Together (PT), led by the force executive and with an ACC directly responsible there has been clear and continued focus in this area, with PT as the primary conduit between national and local delivery. Shared learning and good practice is freely available through various forums and groups maximising opportunities to engage with communities and helping to promote and maintain public safety and confidence.

R13 – Police Scotland should review its approach to dealing with hate crime experienced by police officers and staff on duty and providing effective support. Data should be collected to identify the volume, nature and extent of hate crime perpetrated against police officers and staff. There are now consistent mechanisms for recording hate related incidents and crime which provide accurate data in relation to repeat victims and trends.
 
There is also increased awareness of the importance and actions to be taken and support available for officers and staff who experience hate. Hate Champions across all policing divisions support our response alongside a new Dashboard which can provide supervisors and senior managers an at-a-glance breakdown of relevant data and trend information.

This more structured and focussed approach enables impact to be closely monitored and supports early intervention and improved welfare provision where necessary.

Domestic Abuse
Recommendation What we did and the impact
R2 – Police Scotland should expand the availability and use of third-party sites within community settings and work collaboratively with them to ensure they are properly equipped to support and assist victims to report. Police Scotland do not view the expansion of TPR sites within community settings as a preferred option and instead continue to maintain strong links with established partner agencies who are well placed to provide the necessary victim-orientated advice, safeguarding and advocacy in respect of TPR. Police Scotland also intend to maximise the user experience and accessibility of our online reporting services available via the Police Scotland Website, which provide a safe, discreet alternative reporting option for victims.

These alternative reporting channels help to support victims by providing consistent trauma-informed support and victim orientated reporting options.

R6 Police Scotland should urgently take steps to ensure there is a clear and consistent process for recording victim safety plans, supported by additional training in risk assessment and safety planning for all relevant officers, staff and supervisors.  This should be accompanied by guidance and pro-forma documentation to ensure all aspects are considered and to achieve consistency across the organisation of: 
• What safety provisions are available to officers
• What information should be contained with a safety plan
• Where safety plans should be recorded so they are accessible to those who may need to review/access them
A consistent national pro-forma template which will be securely stored within relevant iVPD records has now been produced. Safey plans will now be readily accessible to all and help ensure all relevant risks and considerations have been taken into account. This has been supported through the dissemination of additional guidance and internal communications to raise awareness.

These improvements will provide consistent standards and a tailored and professional level of care and support, based on individual needs at an early stage of engagement. 

Strategic Workforce Planning
Recommendation What we did and the impact
R6 – Police Scotland should develop a unified and expanded data science capability within the Demand and Productivity Unit Data science capability and capacity has been increased through the appointment of data scientists, assistant scientists, data engineers and improved coordination within the Chief Data Office.
 
This enables research and projects directly aimed at improving service delivery and Officer wellbeing, helping to find innovative approaches to future challenges while contributing towards our strategic outcomes and plans

Mental Health

Recommendation What we did and the impact
R7 – Police Scotland should conduct a full training needs analysis for policing mental health, reflecting its published strategy, to include (but not necessarily limited to) all public-facing roles across the service.
A training needs analysis for policing mental health has now been completed. This has included a review of existing training provision, and the analysis has helped identify training and skills gaps in respect of all public-facing roles and aligned to published strategy and other existing decision making and risk assessment tools, such as the National Decision Model and THRIVE model.
Engagement with key stakeholders and dependencies will continue as development of the training programme and future “business as usual” training activity now takes shape.

R14 Police Scotland and the SPA should put in place measures to monitor progress on the development and implementation of the mental health strategy and the recommendations and areas for development outlined in this review, including recommendations from the VOX lived experience report. A comprehensive range of governance and oversight measures are now in place to drive and monitor progress across each of the stated areas.

Custody D&G
Recommendation What we did and the impact
R13 – Police Scotland should ensure that custody staff are provided with appropriate training in relation to the administration of medication and that this is provided and refreshed in accordance with national guidance and best practice. Significant detail around the administration of medication is already contained in the Care and Welfare SOP and is covered during the Custody Officer Induction Course. Custody officers and staff also complete an annual first aid and Officer Safety refresher. In furtherance to this, a medications management training package has been developed for dissemination to all custody staff which should help embed good practice.

R9 Dumfries and Galloway HSCP must work together with Police Scotland to ensure emergency equipment is maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines and ensure that checks are recorded appropriately.
Guidance developed to ensure appropriate maintenance and checks of AEDs and Naloxone. Maintenance of other medical equipment is the responsibility of NHS, is kept within the medical rooms. Annual testing is completed by medical staff.

Custody Lanarkshire
Recommendation What we did and the impact
R8 – Police Scotland should ensure that environmental cleaning standards are maintained within medical rooms in line with clinical standards. Cleaning guidance is now on display and all cleaning products are in place and used accurately with audits/logs being kept. External providers have provided a deep cleaning schedule.
Staff are aware where the cleaning products are kept and how to access them and the processes for replenishment of products. This falls within the responsibility of the CSO team leader / custody officer.

R13 Police Scotland should ensure that safe and lockable storage is available and used consistently for controlled drugs brought in by detainees
Guidance has been circulated to staff highlighting the importance of securing medication within locked medical cabinets. Photos have been captured and guidance within SOPs displayed.
Following the correct procedures will eliminate issues with medication for individuals in custody being stored securely before and after consultation with a medical professionals.

Custody Tayside
Recommendation What we did and the impact
R2 – Police Scotland should ensure that clear lines of accountability are defined and stipulated for custody supervisors in the event of an adverse incident resulting in serious harm to a detainee. Protocols and roles and responsibilities have been reaffirmed through workshops and published reminders which have been tested during adverse incident exercises. Training has been provided including input from external providers such as PIRC. An interactive partnership event has also been held.

Custody Fife
Recommendation What we did and the impact
R2 – Police Scotland should examine the extent to which local policing may at times use custody as an alternative to identifying an appropriate place of safety, and address any issues identified. Clear criteria are in place in relation to the use of custody centres as a Place of Safety. CJSD, Policing Together, NHS custody health care and Scottish Government have worked together leading to specific guidance in relation to persons who are not under arrest being outlined within the new Mental Health Index.

The document has clarified our position and reinforced the need to prioritise healthcare needs over criminal justice processes and provides Custody Officers and NHS partners with formalised guidance that they can highlight to colleagues should a person be inappropriately brought into police custody.

The improvement activity undertaken to address all of the aforementioned custody recommendations enhances compliance with Health and Safety and the provisions of the Care and Welfare of Persons in Police Custody SOP and thereby reduces risk to persons in custody.