Current Position

A 6 month trial commenced in May 2023 to fast-track IHR cases to Police Scotland’s Director of People and Development. Officers that are suitable for this process require to have been assessed by the SMP as being permanently unfit for both Police Officer duties and regular employment, with all the six key capabilities being permanently affected. This criterion determines that the officer is not suitable to be considered for redeployment and therefore their case does not have to wait to be discussed at a posting panel (which considers redeployment opportunities across Police Scotland) for a decision to be made. This reduces the length of the process for the officer. Feedback will be sought from stakeholders to evaluate the success of this trial.

An interim process change has been introduced with SMPs conducting IoD determinations without the need for face-to-face appointments. This has reduced the waiting times for these cases to be finalised and removed the requirement for officers to recount their circumstances, which was described by some as re-traumatising in their evidence to the Criminal Justice Committee. The option for a face-to-face appointment is still available if desired. A paper outlining the proposal to have IHR and IoD considered simultaneously is being presented to the Scottish Police Consultative Forum as outlined below.

At the end of Quarter 1 there were 65 IHR cases and 53 IoD cases waiting to be progressed. This is a further reduction from the numbers reported in the 2022-2023 year-end Wellbeing report. These figures are inclusive of new applications received since 1 April 2023.