Background

Legislation
The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 provides that the Scottish Police Authority and the Chief
Constable must maintain suitable arrangements for the handling of relevant complaints. The Act further states
that the Authority must keep itself informed as to the manner in which relevant complaints are dealt with by the
Chief Constable with a view to satisfying itself that the arrangements are suitable.

Dip Sampling
Dip-Sampling of Police Scotland complaints assists the Authority in discharging its statutory obligations and
responsibilities in terms of complaints handling.

At its June 2023 meeting, the Committee was advised of the commitment to adopt a prioritised and co-ordinated
approach to a broad multi-agency audit plan, co-ordinated through the National Complaint Handling Development
Group (NCHDG) which aligns with the recommendation in Dame Elish Angiolini’s preliminary report, that:
“All the audit arrangements, in relation to policing in Scotland, including regular dip sampling designed to
identify poor practice, good practice and emerging trends should be prioritised and co-ordinated to support the
common objective of improving standards and service to the public.”

Following engagement with Police Scotland and the PIRC, and as reported to the June 2023 meeting of the Committee,
the SPA Complaints Team have reintroduced its quarterly dip-sampling of Police Scotland complaints (a process
previously paused during the COVID-19 pandemic).

Dip-Sampling involves regularly assessing a sample of complaints, in line with recognised auditing techniques,
for compliance with the Police Scotland ‘Complaints about the Police’ Standard Operating Procedure (CAPSOP),
and the underpinning PIRC Statutory Guidance, as well as undertaking a corresponding assessment in relation to
any complaints which relate directly to Police Scotland’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) or Professional Standards
Department (PSD).

In planning this exercise, the Authority consulted with Police Scotland and the PIRC in order to ensure no overlap
between this activity and forthcoming annual audit plans.

The Authority would like to thank Police Scotland’s Professional Standards Department for their help and
assistance with this exercise.