GOVERNANCE AND ASSURANCE

Since the introduction of the Code of Practice in 2017 and as previously reported to the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee, the following operating model of governance still applies:

Local Supervision

Supervisors carry out 100% review of all stop and search records submitted by officers and provide that first tier of assurance, guidance and review to support officers.

Database Quality Checks

Database Quality Checks of records are carried out 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 is undertaken at a local level as part of a wider self-assessment conducted by divisions or at a national level by NSSU if required. (See 4.4)

Stop and search activity is overseen through a range of governance structures led by ACC Sutherland, ensuring transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. This includes the biannual Stop Search Mainstreaming Group, which provides external scrutiny from stakeholders such as the Scottish Government, the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, and the Scottish Police Authority. A newly formed monthly tactical meeting focuses on reviewing current policies, examining trends, assessing the impact of Body Worn Video, and supporting youth violence prevention initiatives. Additionally, stop and search is reported through the Violence, Disorder and Anti-Social Behaviour (VDASB) meeting structure, including monthly tactical and quarterly Gold Group meetings, aligning the tactic with emerging trends.

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.

Monthly Assurance Reports are provided to Local Policing Commanders and include detailed age and ethnicity data, enabling further scrutiny of stop and search practices within a localised context. These reports present statistical comparisons across Sub-Division, Divisional, and Force-wide levels, offering a comprehensive view of activity and emerging trends. Additionally interactive Power BI dashboards are available to enhance accessibility and support instant data exploration. These dashboards allow users to filter and analyse search data by various categories, including protected characteristics, search type, location, and outcomes. This interactive approach allows Divisions to closely monitor performance, identify disproportionalities or anomalies, and take informed, data-driven action to address any issues or concerns that arise. Furthermore, the public facing dashboard provides external users with access to data in a user-friendly format supporting Police Scotland’s ongoing commitment to transparency in the use of this tactic.

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 2024 to March 2025, the compliance rate was 88.1% and once amended for administrative errors was 99% (the remaining 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.