PSD National Gateway Assessment Unit

National Gateway Assessment Unit (NGAU) provides the single point of contact for all referrals submitted by local policing divisions and departments within Police Scotland regarding any issues involving on or off-duty criminality and/or the conduct or professional behaviour of serving police officers or members of police staff.

Between 01 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, PSD NGAU received 3,610 referrals in total. A breakdown of these referrals is as follows:

Gateway Category Number %
ABUSE OF AUTHORITY 14 0.39%
AUDIT REQUEST 77 2.13%
BUSINESS INTEREST 663 18.37%
CONDITIONAL POSTING 24 0.66%
CONTROLLED DRUG USE AND SUPPLY 56 1.55%
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION 148 4.10%
EXPLOITATION OF THE PRIVILEGE OF OFFICE 3 0.08%
GRIEVANCE RELATED MATTER 82 2.27%
INAPPROPRIATE ASSOCIATION 48 1.33%
INAPPROPRIATE SOCIAL MEDIA 31 0.86%
MISUSE OF FORCE SYSTEMS 39 1.08%
NOTIFIABLE ASSOCIATION 782 21.66%
ORGANISATIONAL RISK 499 13.82%
OTHER 19 0.53%
OTHER CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR 328 9.09%
PERFORMANCE 475 13.16%
PERVERTING THE COURSE OF JUSTICE 3 0.08%
PUBLIC SECTOR 2 0.06%
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT 30 0.83%
SOCIAL MEDIA CAPTURE 2 0.06%
THEFT AND FRAUD 19 0.53%
VULNERABILITY 266 7.37%
Grand Total 3610 100.00%

Upon receipt, PSD NGAU officers record and triage all referrals, carry out background checks and depending on the initial assessment, allocate the referral to the relevant local policing division, department, the Professional Standards Department (PSD) or the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) for further action.

As a general rule, matters relating to on-duty criminality, corruption or misconduct will be allocated within PSD or ACU for progression and matters relating to off-duty criminality, local issues, workplace practices or behaviours will be reverted to the most appropriate Division for consideration and progression. In addition, People and Development will also be involved should matters relate to members of police staff.

The outcome of the aforementioned referrals is as follows:

Outcome of Enquiry Number %
ACU referral 240 6.65%
Advice & Guidance 14 0.39%
Allegation Disproved 19 0.53%
Allegation Malicious 7 0.19%
Allegation Not Substantiated 183 5.07%
Business Interest 616 17.06%
Conditional Posting 12 0.33%
Info only - noted iBase 447 12.38%
Memo to Division 508 14.07%
Notifiable Association Sec 4 complete & returned to Division 680 18.84%
Ongoing 254 7.04%
Other - specify in NOTES 165 4.57%
Performance - Memo to Division 45 1.25%
PSD - Complaints 88 2.44%
PSD - Conduct 161 4.46%
PSD - Investigations 140 3.88%
PSD - SI Team Enquiry 31 0.86%
Grand Total 3610 100.00%

PSD NGAU officers will also consider whether any reports meet the legislative criteria as outlined within the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) 1998 and formally record these on PSD systems as ‘Whistleblowing’.