Scottish Crime Recording Board minutes: March 2025

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• David Smith (Chair), Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Rose Munenura, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Susan Carsley, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Emily MacLaren, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Lynne White, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Ashley MacRobert, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Malcolm Kerr, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Maggie Pettigrew, HMICS
• Angela Wood, Police Scotland: Policy, Audit, Risk and Assurance
• Gillian Cherry, Police Scotland: Demand and Productivity Unit
• Tina MacLucas, Police Scotland: Principal Analyst
• Jennie Judge, MOD: Crime Registrar
• Richard Seivwright, Police Scotland: Specialist Crime Division
• Gill McKee, Police Scotland: Specialist Crime Division
• Matthew Kirk, Scottish Police Authority

 

Apologies

• Lorraine Ramsay, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar

• Eamon McElroy, Police Scotland: Demand and Productivity Unit
• Kieran Maher, British Transport Police

Items and actions

Agenda

• Introductions
• Apologies
• Actions from previous Meeting
• PS update on Improvement Plan/Audit Recommendations
• PS Internal Audit update
• HMICS audit update
• Update on Data Quality Assurance and Outcomes
• Update on Accredited Official Statistics Recorded Crime Publications
• The Office for Statistics Regulation, Recorded Crime developments in England & Wales
• Update on recording practice for children in care pilot
• Update on recording of fraud
• Proposed coding changes
• SCRS amendments for 2025/26
• Any other Business
• Date of Next Meeting: To be confirmed

 

Actions arising from meeting 20:

PS Internal Audit update

Police Scotland to share a copy or link to the 2024/25 internal audit results with members, once available.

Update on Accredited Official Statistics Recorded Crime Publications

Members to provide Justice Analytical Services with feedback on the current structure of the annual Official Statistics bulletin, including areas they find particularly useful.

Update on Accredited Official Statistics Recorded Crime Publications

Justice Analytical Services and Police Scotland to continue investigating whether new statistical information on different types of motor vehicle theft can be included.

The Office for Statistics Regulation; Recorded Crime developments in

England & Wales

As part of refreshing the User Guide, Justice Analytical Services to consider the Officer for Statistics Regulation recommendations for England & Wales crime statistics, and where relevant, work with Police Scotland and others to incorporate any additional material that demonstrates compliance for similar areas.

Update on recording of fraud

Justice Analytical Services to prepare a position paper for members on the recording of fraud and cyber-crime within the Official Statistics, including options for how this could change in the event of any developments in operational practice.

Proposed coding changes

Following Board approval, the coding of crimes for dangerous driving will be amended, with further detail provided to users. Justice Analytical Services and Police Scotland to consider whether any back-dating of the change is possible within the statistics.

SCRS amendments for 2025/26

Justice Analytical Services to publish the updated Scottish Crime Recording Standard manual.