Report Summary
This report provides members of the Policing Performance Committee with an overview of Police Scotland’s progress on delivery against recommendations from the Joint Review of Diversion from Prosecution 2023.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 12 March 2024
Date : 12 March 2024
Location : online
Progress Update
Police Scotland play a significant role in terms of diversion from prosecution in making sure that information is available within the Standard Prosecution Report (SPR) to assist COPFS in any decisions towards diversion.
Whilst none of the recommendations have been formally closed during this reporting period, significant work has been ongoing to progress the improvements needed to meet the requirements of the recommendations.
CJSD have been delivering inputs to all Local Policing Divisions via their Service Delivery or Criminal Justice Chief Inspectors and messaging has been developed for the Force Intranet explaining diversion from prosecution and when and how it can be used.
A review of all training materials, guidance, and template SPRs is currently ongoing to ensure they contain appropriate guidance on diversion from prosecution.
All Case Management resources have been briefed to assess SPRs and where diversion from prosecution may have been appropriate, they will contact the reporting officer and provide supportive guidance.
An SPR Quality Improvement Programme has been established to ensure the quality of information included in an SPR is up to standard, which will include an assessment of the inclusion of information from iVPD.
COPFS and Police Scotland are currently engaged in redeveloping the SPR template (SPR3), which will clearly identify the information that COPFS require and will have mandatory fields for completion to ensure that suitable antecedent information and consideration of diversion is included by reporting officers. It is anticipated that this will progress throughout Spring 2024.
Whilst Direct Measures are separate to Diversion from Prosecution and were outwith the scope of this inspection, work is also ongoing to raise awareness and encourage the appropriate use of Direct Measures.
