Previous Oversight by the Authority

Stop and search data are regularly published by Police Scotland, with the most recent update brought to Policing Performance Committee (PPC) in June 2023. The disproportionality of searches of BAME individuals in Scotland has also been raised, with the National Stop and Search Unit committing to further investigation of these higher rates.

Police Scotland have made a public statement committing to ensuring high standards of vetting officers.

There has been previous reporting to Complaints and Conduct Committee on Continuous Integrity Screening, with the update noting that an annual re-vetting programme will result in over 1,200 vetting reviews of officers and staff being conducted every year.

Police Scotland have also reported on the progression of recommendations related to professional boundaries in November 2022 to the Complaints and Conducts Committee. This was a result of the review commissioned by DCC Taylor into all complaints and conduct matters between 1st January 2017 and 21st October 2021.

People Committee receives quarterly wellbeing updates from Police Scotland, as well as quarterly updates on resourcing. In addition, discussions regarding 2023/24 pay settlements are currently underway via the Police Negotiating Board.

Mental health demand has been regularly reported on by Police Scotland and the Authority convened an event on Mental Health, Vulnerability and Policing in December 2022 and Policing & Trauma in April 2023.

The Authority approved the Hate Crime Act Initial Business Case (IBC) at May Resources Committee, which covers those parts of the Act that Police Scotland is required to implement. This project will allow Police Scotland to discharge recommendations made by HMICS in relation to training officers and staff in the provisions outlined in the Act.