Professional Boundaries & Continuous Integrity Screening

As previously reported, Police Scotland recognise the imperative upon its workforce to act with integrity and professionalism at all times, given its privileged position and the vital importance of upholding public trust and confidence, and have reinforced that any inference that Standards of Professional Behaviour have been breached will be thoroughly investigated.

In 2021-22, following a number of high-profile matters, including the tragic murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, a serving officer from the Metropolitan Police Service, there has been a push for UK police forces to look at their internal approach to professional boundaries. In October 2021, Police Scotland commissioned a review of all complaints and conduct matters which had been reported to or within the organisation since January 2017 and which contained a sexual circumstance.

In May 2022, the Committee considered a resulting report outlining findings and proposed next steps.

Whilst the review found no significant issues in terms of how these matters were investigated, opportunities were identified to enhance organisational learning and raise awareness of the Standards of Professional Behaviour (as set out in the Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014 and which reflect the expectations of officers, whether on or off duty).

A number of recommendations were identified, including enhancement of vetting arrangements, and a range of actions and preventative activity to be progressed over the next twelve months. Police Scotland committed to providing updates to the Committee on the progression of recommendations and resulting impact on a biannual basis.

Members welcomed an initial progress update in November 2022, noting that it represented a firm change in the organisation, but seeking to understand how organisational learning was obtained in respect of the experience of individuals who raise concerns (whether internal to the workforce or members of the public).

Following a subsequent progress update in June 2023, Members sought clarity on how Police Scotland would evaluate the impact of action being taken, being advised that work was underway to develop a measurement framework, but that it was anticipated that feedback from staff associations would form a key element. Members also sought assurance Police Scotland had reflected on planned action in light of the statement made by the Chief Constable at the May 2023 Authority meeting in respect of institutional discrimination in policing.

In an update to the February 2023 Authority meeting on Continuous Integrity Screening (see below), and subsequently reported to the March 2023 Committee, Police Scotland confirmed its intention to refresh the above review, to cover the period from October 2021, and to extend its terms of reference to include all domestic abuse related matters (covering a 3 year period). It is anticipated that a resulting report on findings and proposed next steps will be presented to the Committee in 2023-24.

Following the conviction for serious sexual and domestic offences in early 2023 of David Carrick, a serving officer from the Metropolitan Police Service, the UK Home Office announced that all forces in England and Wales would undertake national police database checks on their existing workforce.

Whilst policing in Scotland is devolved, at the February 2023 Authority meeting Police Scotland committed to also undertaking this exercise (and reporting to the Committee on findings), as well as introducing a range of other improvements to vetting processes. A corresponding report was also presented to the Committee in March 2023, with a progress update provided in June 2023. A report on findings from the exercise is anticipated later in 2023-24. During discussions, the Committee recognised the limitations of vetting and the importance of other controls to address risk to ensure public confidence. Police Scotland acknowledge that it is not a single solution, and are taking forward wider action as part of its Preventions and Professionalism Programme (see below).

As part of its Organisational Culture Thematic Inspection, HMICS will assure the quality of vetting and renewals, and whether these effectively identify misconduct. It is anticipated that an HMICS Assurance Review report on findings in relation to vetting will be published in August 2023.