Report Summary
This report provides members of the Policing Performance Committee with an overview of Stop & Search Performance Update.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 15 June 2023
Date : 15 June 2023
Location : online
Governance and Assurance
Since the introduction of the Code of Practice in 2017 and as reported to Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee in 2019, the following operating model of governance still applies:
Local Supervision
Supervisors carry out 100% review of all stop search records submitted by officers and provide that first tier of assurance, guidance and review to support officers.
Database Quality Checks
Database Quality Checks have replaced the 100% review of records by the National Stop Search Unit (NSSU). This process tests the local assurance model and provides confidence levels for the organisation on compliance with business rules and overall compliance with the Code of Practice.
Dip Sampling of Records
Dip sampling of a calculated number of records, combined with the Database Quality Checks (QC) confirm that processes are proportionate and support the view that supervisors understand the application of recording criteria and the QC helps identify records that require amendment.
Quality Assurance Processes
Quality Assurance will only be undertaken at a local level as part of a wider self-assessment conducted by divisions or at a national level by NSSU if required.
The National Stop Search Unit (NSSU) reports monthly to ACC Johnson, Executive Lead for Stop and Search via the Violence, Disorder and Anti-social Behaviour Strategic Meeting as well as publishing data in quarterly Management Information Reports for external scrutiny and transparency. Additionally the NSSU reports bi-annually to the Stop Search Mainstreaming Group which again is chaired by ACC Johnston. This meeting affords the opportunity for further external discussion and scrutiny from stakeholders including, Scottish Government, Scottish Institute for Policing Research and the SPA, which further supports our transparency in using the tactic.
The close monitoring of the use of the stop and search tactic through this governance allows for trends or outlying data to be identified early and the underlying reasons explored.
When outlying data is observed, consideration must be given to ageing census data, which was last published in 2011, and to obtaining local context as data which may appear as disproportionate often has a rational explanation once fully explored. The governance adhered to by Police Scotland provides a platform for this scrutiny.
Monthly Assurance reports are provided to Local Policing Commanders which include age and ethnicity data, allowing further scrutiny around the use of the tactic in a localised context. These reports provide statistical data and comparison on Sub Division / Divisional and Force activity. The monthly reports provide indicators of search categories, including protected characteristics, which Divisions monitor and review to understand the reasons for activity and can take action to address any identified issues.
This governance also considers stop and search compliance with the Code of Practice. Compliance rates measure adherence to the Code of Practice and for the period April 2022 to March 2023, the compliance rate was 88.1% and once amended for administrative errors was 98.9% (the remaining 1.1% accounts for duplicate records or where records have been submitted when not required by the Code of Practice, e.g. custody searches). This measure continues to provide confidence that officers and supervisors are conversant with the Code of Practice and understand the recording requirements.
