PSD National Gateway Assessment Unit (NGAU)

National Gateway Assessment Unit (NGAU) provides the single point of contact for all referrals submitted by local policing divisions and departments within Police Scotland regarding any issues involving on or off-duty criminality and/or the conduct or professional behaviour of serving police officers or members of police staff.

Between 01 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, PSD NGAU received 3,174 referrals in total. A breakdown of these referrals is as follows: -

Gateway Category Number %
ABUSE OF AUTHORITY 20 0.63%
AUDIT REQUEST 74 2.33%
BUSINESS INTEREST 653 20.57%
CONDITIONAL POSTING 3 0.09%
CONTROLLED DRUG USE AND SUPPLY 79 2.49%
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION 156 4.91%
EXPLOITATION OF THE PRIVILEGE OF OFFICE 13 0.41%
GRIEVANCE RELATED MATTER 45 1.42%
INAPPROPRIATE ASSOCIATION 83 2.61%
INAPPROPRIATE SOCIAL MEDIA 39 1.23%
MISUSE OF FORCE SYSTEMS 31 0.98%
NOTIFIABLE ASSOCIATION 668 21.05%
ORGANISATIONAL RISK 374 11.78%
OTHER 19 0.60%
OTHER CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR 290 9.14%
PERFORMANCE 379 11.94%
PERVERTING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE 2 0.06%
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT 48 1.51%
SOCIAL MEDIA CAPTURE 2 0.06%
THEFT AND FRAUD 15 0.47%
VULNERABILITY 181 5.70%
Grand Total 3174 100.00%

Upon receipt, PSD NGAU officers record and triage all referrals, carry out background checks and depending on the initial assessment, allocate the referral to the relevant local policing division, department, the Professional Standards Department (PSD) or the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) for further action.

As a general rule, matters relating to on-duty criminality, corruption or misconduct will be allocated within PSD or ACU for progression and matters relating to off-duty criminality, local issues, workplace practices or behaviours will be reverted to the most appropriate Division for consideration and progression. In addition, People and Development will also be involved should matters relate to members of police staff.

The outcome of the aforementioned referrals is as follows:

Outcome of Enquiry Number %
ACU referral 173 5.45%
Advice & Guidance 17 0.54%
Allegation Disproved 10 0.32%
Allegation Malicious 8 0.25%
Allegation Not Substantiated 161 5.07%
Business Interest 628 19.79%
Conditional Posting 1 0.03%
Noted for Information only 468 14.74%
Memo to Division 564 17.77%
Notifiable Association Sec 4 complete & returned to Division 553 17.42%
ONGOING 205 6.46%
Other 57 1.80%
Performance - Memo to Division 25 0.79%
PSD - Complaints 44 1.39%
PSD - Conduct 131 4.13%
PSD - Investigations 91 2.87%
PSD - SI Team Enquiry 38 1.20%
Grand Total 3174 100.00%

PSD NGAU officers will also consider whether any reports meet the legislative criteria as outlined within the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) 1998 and formally record these on PSD systems as ‘Whistleblowing’.