Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority's Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee with an overview of benchmarking activity within SPA Corporate, presenting an overview of activities undertaken and a summary analysis following an initial data exchange with other oversight and public bodies. This paper also provides details of the next steps being taken and areas of focus for the 2024-25.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee - 15 August 2024
Date : 15 August 2024
Location : online
Establishing our benchmarking network
The first step in the process was identifying appropriate organisations to be involved. This included an initial desktop review of police oversight bodies within the UK to understand those that have similar functions and responsibilities to SPA Corporate. When identifying suitable organisations, from publicly available data in the first instance, the following details were considered:
• Key functions and responsibilities
• Overall headcount
• Overall budget
• Type and size of police force / other operations overseen
The aim of this initial step was to identify organisations that are comparable to SPA Corporate, recognising that no other body will be a perfect comparison but will have enough similarity to allow sharing of practice and insights. This part of the process was therefore not about excluding organisations on account of any differences, but instead about understanding the similarities and differences that exist.
It was also recognised that involving non-police oversight organisations, regulators and public bodies could be beneficial. It was therefore decided that a phased approach would be taken to the benchmarking programme, with Phase 1 focused on other police oversight bodies, and Phase 2 involving non-police organisations. Phase 1 was subsequently launched in July 2023 and Phase 2 in September 2023, with organisations contacted to secure their involvement and gather initial information.
Online surveys were used to gather initial information from organisations for each phase. As part of the communication the SPA Corporate response to each survey was provided, evidencing our open and transparent approach to the exercise from the start. An example is provided as Appendix 1 to this paper.
The Phase 1 survey was closed in October 2023 with a total of 15 participants in the benchmarking exercise confirmed. This represents around one third of all police oversight bodies in the UK and Ireland. The confirmed participants are:
• Scottish Police Authority
• British Transport Police Authority
• Irish Policing Authority
• Northern Ireland Policing Board
• Avon & Somerset OPCC
• Cambridge & Peterborough OPCC
• Cheshire OPCC
• Devon, Cornwall & Scilly OPCC • Durham & Darlington OPCC
• Dyfed Powys OPCC
• Gloucestershire OPCC
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority
• Lincolnshire OPCC
• Thames Valley OPCC
• Wiltshire & Swindon OPCC
An additional three responses were received for the Phase 2 survey:
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Risk Management Authority
• Scottish Legal Aid Board
