Evaluation of police and fire reform year 4: summary of evidence

Reform Aim 2: To create more equal access to specialist support and national capacity - like murder investigation teams, firearms teams or flood rescue - where and when they are needed.

Police Scotland

• HMICS have produced evidence relating to aim 2. This includes inspections of undercover policing, firearms licensing, the Counter Corruption Unit and custody centres.
• HMICS have completed a review of undercover policing which has included examining the contribution made by undercover policing operations towards public safety in Scotland. This includes examining and making recommendations in relation to Policing 2026, partners, financial management, training, ICT and staff wellbeing.
• The HMICS Progress Review of the Assurance Review of Police Scotland's Counter Corruption Unit (2016) found that Police Scotland has made considerable progress with delivery of the thirty-nine recommendations outlined in the HMICS report. In regards to leadership they identified that senior leadership within Police Scotland demonstrated a commitment to preventing corruption and investigating wrongdoing in a professional and ethical manner.
• HMICS has published their Progress Review of Provision of Forensic Medical Services to Victims of Sexual Crime. They have made ten recommendations for improvement, for example, reviewing legal agreements between partners, strengthening governance arrangements and establishing dedicated healthcare facilities across Scotland informed by research and current best practice.
• HMICS completed a Thematic Review of Police Scotland's approach to the development and operational delivery of the Annual Police Plan (2018-19). Some of the recommendations have relevance to aim 2, for example, Police Scotland should develop transparent and consistent reporting of the deployment of specialist or national support resources from Specialist Crime Division and Operational Support Division, and Police Scotland should undertake an immediate review of its approach and delivery structure for analytical support with intelligence analysis aligned to specialist crime division and performance analysis aligned to the strategy function.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

• HMFSI local inspection reports in Highlands and Glasgow discuss specialist functions at a local level.
• In the Highlands, HMFSI highlight the need to maintain operational skills for those carrying out specialist roles, through training opportunities and continuing to use these staff where appropriate in an operational role. Issues are also raised in relation to the location and maintenance of specialist equipment in the Highlands.
• The HMFSI local report on Glasgow, states that they agree SFRS' policy on access to specialist resources is the most appropriate, in which they are geographically spread to reflect varying risk. However, HMFSI do identify some delays with servicing and maintenance at Water Rescue Stations and there are ongoing issues with crewing levels of the rescue boat and the standard of some specialised equipment such as the Ariel Rescue Pumps.

Key point

• Inspectorate reports published in 2018 demonstrate progress is being made towards aim 2 of reform for both Police Scotland and SFRS, and identified areas for ongoing improvement at a local and national level with regards to partnerships and governance arrangements in specialist functions for the police, and location and maintenance of specialist equipment for fire.