Closures within Reporting Period

Below is a summary of the closed recommendations.

Publication Date Remaining Closed since last meeting
Joint Review of Diversion from Prosecution Feb 2023 3 Recs 1 Rec Closed
Lanarkshire Apr 2023 4 Recs, 0 AFD 4 AFD Closed
Tayside
Jul 2023 2 Recs, 0 AFD
Dumfries and GallowayNov 20231 Recs, 0 AFD
Fife 
Mar 2024 8 Recs, 1 AFD 2 Recs Closed
Ayrshire
May 2024 3 Recs, 0 AFD
5 AFD Closed
Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Oct 2024 5 Recs, 3 AFD
 
Greater Glasgow Mar 2025 4 Recs, 2 AFD In draft

Custody Lanarkshire – 4 AFDs closed

Recommendation What we did and the impact
AFD1-The custody centres should ensure that property management
procedures are followed and implemented effectively. Briefing circulated to all staff via the CJSD weekly electronic briefing and reminders provided at the Custody Operations Engagement Forum.
Cluster Inspectors continue to monitor this in the Lanarkshire area to ensure compliance.

This supports the Business Plan 2024 – 2027-to develop a custody estate that meets modern standards and is fit for the future.
Compliance with our legislative and procedural frameworks helps to ensure the transparency and accountability necessary to build and maintain trust and confidence in policing.
AFD2-The custody centres should ensure that a clear rationale is
recorded on the national custody system in support of risk
assessments and changes in observation levels.
Briefings on Observation Levels and NCS Recording circulated to all staff via the CJSD weekly electronic briefing and reminders provided at the Custody Operations Engagement Forum.
This is being monitored through the weekly Cluster Audits to ensure compliance
This supports the Business Plan 2024 – 2027 to develop a custody estate that meets modern standards and is fit for the future.
Compliance with our legislative and procedural frameworks helps to ensure the transparency and accountability necessary to build and maintain trust and confidence in policing.
AFD3-NHS Lanarkshire and Police Scotland should work together to
ensure that detainees know how to provide feedback or raise a
complaint regarding the healthcare service they received while in
custody.
Police Scotland have a robust Healthcare Service Review procedure which allows Police Scotland the ability to voice concerns and issues regarding the healthcare service they receive across the country.
Posters are on display in the doctor’s and the processing room of custody in Lanarkshire ensuring all relevant parties being able to raise issues about each other and individuals in our care knowing how to do this. 
Strategic Outcomes
This has contributed to meeting the needs of communities through effective service delivery by enabling and supporting our people to better serve the public.
AFD7-The custody centres should improve the display and availability
of information regarding services available in the community to
support detainees on release. There are posters and information now up within the custody centre including the medical room too. There is also information within the holding area and charge bar in relation to referral services.  
Police Scotland display referral posters and since this report we have made this more prominent and in more areas in our custody centres. Importantly we are also proactive as an organisation offering this to individuals in our care. We also link in with partners in how to improve the services available and if we can get partners into the centre for that direct contact.

Compliance with the provisions of the Care and Welfare of Persons in Police Custody SOP, treating everyone with dignity and respect, building and maintaining trust and confidence.

Custody Fife– 2 recommendations closed

Recommendation What we did and the impact
R5 - Risk Assessment Improvements to Recording

Police Scotland should ensure that risk is correctly evaluated, addressed and recorded to ensure a clear correlation between risk assessment and care plans. CJSD has now introduced a new audit and assurance regime which is now actively reviewing risk assessments and care plans for custody records in live time and implementing changes where there are incorrect/unsound decisions and/or a lack of appropriate recording of mitigations on place. Care Plan, Observation Levels and risk assessment decisions and recording all form crucial parts of these audits. 
This process is now ongoing and will be subject to review as to its effectiveness around 6 months and 12 months of implementation. Work is ongoing to improve education and compliance with this issue nationally, through E-briefs, engagement forums and training so all staff at every level are aware.

This links to the Business Plan 2024 – 2027 -Compliance with our legislative and procedural frameworks helps to ensure the transparency and accountability necessary to build and maintain trust and confidence in policing.
This also supports compliance with the provisions of the Care and Welfare of Persons in Police Custody SOP, treating everyone with dignity and respect, building and maintaining trust and confidence.
R15 - Place of Safety 

Police Scotland should examine the extent to which local policing may at times use custody as an alternative to identifying an appropriate place of safety, and address any issues identified CJSD worked with the Policing Together team, NHS Custody Healthcare colleagues and the Scottish Government to ensure that this consideration was included in the new Mental Health Index for Police Scotland.
The document has provided a better understanding of the need to prioritise healthcare needs over criminal justice processes and provides Custody Officers and NHS partners with formalised guidance that they can highlight to colleagues should a person be inappropriately brought into police custody.
This links to Business Plan 2024 – 2027-by examining our own practices and working with key partners this has helped to enhance our focus towards the priorities of policing, creating vital capacity for officers to best serve their communities.

Custody Ayrshire - 5 AFDs closed

Recommendation What we did and the impact
AFD1 The custody centres should ensure routine checks include security risks and apply appropriate measures to mitigate any weaknesses identified.
Estates repaired the closing door mechanism at Kilmarnock and to mitigate the risk a sign has also been secured to the door to remind staff and officers to ensure the door is fully closed at all times.

With the control measures in place by officers bringing people to custody and within this area, the risk of being able to access a high-level ladder from ground level is extremely low. 

There have been no reports of any unauthorised individual accessing the roof space or attempting to do so.
This links to our Strategic Outcome-
Threats to public safety and wellbeing are resolved by a proactive and responsive police service
AFD 2 -The custody centres should ensure a suitable mix of staff and detainee information posters are distributed throughout relevant areas within the centres.
A newly formed cadre of Custody Support and Intervention Champions has been established to support the relaunch of the arrest referral scheme and training is ongoing to assist them in understanding what support services are available and providing this information to individuals in custody, which is in addition to posters on display. This will help individuals in our care get the assistance they require.
Work is ongoing with ICT to secure the provision of video brochures that can be used to show short videos outlining what support and other services are available as well.

This contributes to Health and Safety and compliance with the provisions of the Care and Welfare of Persons in Police Custody SOP.
Compliance with the provisions of the Care and Welfare of Persons in Police Custody SOP, treating everyone with dignity and respect, building and maintaining trust and confidence.
AFD 3-The Saltcoats custody centre should ensure existing storage capacity is utilised effectively to ensure appropriate 
accommodation is afforded to the housing of essential operational equipment.
The intoximeter room and racking are now organised and allow space to work. No issue has been noted or recorded that this has had an adverse effect on the criminal investigation or has caused issue regarding security. 

Due to the low risk of issue after completing a clearance of this area and no recorded issue previously being raised, the intoximeter and racking will remain in place. A further review can be conducted and evaluation of current set up should anything arise in the future.

This supports the Business Plan 2024 – 2027-to develop a custody estate that meets modern standards and is fit for the future.
AFD 4 -The custody centres should routinely consider the use of separate cell corridors or separated cells for gender-based segregation to improve privacy, where considered appropriate.
Briefings and guidance has been shared regarding this topic and has been highlighted to improve privacy for individuals in our care. 
On a national level there is guidance to staff regarding keeping males and females in separate cells and areas within our cell accommodation this is detailed in the Care and Welfare SOP.
This supports compliance with the provisions of the Care and Welfare of Persons in Police Custody SOP, treating everyone with dignity and respect, building and maintaining trust and confidence.
AFD 5 -The custody centres should ensure that detainee healthcare interventions are undertaken confidentially unless a risk assessment indicates otherwise Guidance has been circulated to staff outlining the confidential nature of medical examinations, importance of privacy when safe to do so and reassuring of NHS escalation processes should there be a relevant disclosure.
This supports compliance with the provisions of the Care and Welfare of Persons in Police Custody SOP, treating everyone with dignity and respect, building and maintaining trust and confidence.

Diversion from Prosecution -1 Rec closed

Recommendation What we did and the impact
R9 - Review all guidance re the completion of SPRs

Police Scotland should ensure that internal police guidance, standard operating procedures and templates provide adequate information to guide reporting officers on the completion of Standard Prosecution Reports (SPRs) as they relate to diversion. Police Scotland has gone through a national process of updating the Service’s National Case system, this has now been completed and has rolled out across the country. Improved guidance and operating procedures for the completion of SPRs has seen an improvement in efficiency and effectiveness with a more consistent approach in reporting mechanisms, including the suitability of alternatives to prosecution (Diversion measures). 
The new SPR3 will be introduced in 2025 led by COPFS will require Reporting Officers to enter information where previously it would have been voluntary and at their own discretion.
 
This links to the Business Plan 2024 – 2027-
compliance with our legislative and procedural frameworks helps to ensure the transparency and accountability necessary to build and maintain trust and confidence in policing.