Measuring progress and assessing performance

Police Scotland provides quarterly performance reports to enable review and oversight by the Scottish Police Authority. An annual performance report measuring progress against agreed outcomes is provided to the Scottish Police Authority by the Chief Constable.

The five strategic outcomes provide a clear message to the public and stakeholders on how policing in Scotland is expected to improve as a consequence of implementing this Strategic Police Plan.

The outcomes are the basis on which progress will be measured as part of a Policing Performance Framework. Performance assessment constitutes a critical component of the Scottish Police Authority’s statutory functions, including keeping policing in Scotland under review, promoting and supporting continuous improvement and holding the Chief Constable to account.

Quarterly Performance Reporting to Scottish Police Authority

The policing performance framework consists of a set of measures agreed between the Authority and Police Scotland, and an accompanying public reporting regime. For each of the agreed measures, a baseline position is established at the outset, and the direction of travel is agreed.

Progress against each of the framework’s measures is reported by Police Scotland to the Authority’s Policing Performance Committee for initial consideration, and to the Authority’s Board meeting for full review on a quarterly basis.

Scottish Police Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts

The Authority is required to assess and report on performance across the policing system on an annual basis. Each financial year, the Authority produces an Annual Report (as part of the Annual Report and Accounts) which is laid before Parliament.

The development of the performance assessment is overseen by the Authority’s Policing Performance Committee.

The annual performance assessment is made up of two core elements:

the Authority’s assessment of Police Scotland’s performance in implementing the arrangements set out in the Annual Police Plan and Strategic Police Plan; and

the Authority’s assessment of Forensics Services, in achieving the outcomes in the Forensic Strategy, as well as an assessment of the Authority’s Corporate Performance against the SPA Corporate Strategy.

The Authority draws on a range of publicly available information and data to produce its Annual Report, including material contained in performance reports provided by Police Scotland and Forensic Services during the reporting year.

Scrutiny of the police service in Scotland

In compiling this comprehensive view of policing performance, the Authority also engages with each Scottish local authority, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and other partner organisations for their views on the impact of policing, in order to reflect a wide range of data and opinion sources.

Oversight and scrutiny of policing in Scotland are the responsibility of a range of agencies with varying roles.
The primary bodies with a summary of their key responsibilities are set out here.

The Scottish Government:

Appoints members of the Scottish Police Authority

Approves the appointment of the Chief Constable

Sets national budgets and strategic police priorities

Has power of direction over the Authority

The Scottish Police Authority:

Maintains the Police Service

Promotes the policing principles

Promotes and supports continuous improvement in the policing of Scotland

Holds the Chief Constable to account for the policing of Scotland

Provides Scottish Ministers with information relating to the Authority or the Police Service

Produces the Strategic Police Plan Police Scotland:

Is responsible and accountable to the Authority for policing

Is responsible for direction, control, administration and continuous improvement of the police service

Prepares annual police plans and local police plans

Ensures adequate arrangements are in place for the policing of each local authority area

Criminal Justice Committee:

Considers and reports on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland:

Assesses the state, effectiveness and efficiency of Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority

Can be directed by Scottish Ministers

Provides professional advice and guidance on policing Local Authorities:

Are consulted by the Scottish Police Authority on the Strategic Police Plan

Views taken into account by divisional commanders developing local police plans

Elected members scrutinise how Police Scotland delivers the agreed priorities set out in their local police plan