Report Summary
This report summarises the performance of the Scottish Police Authority's corporate function for quarter one, April to June, of the 2026-27 reporting period.
The report excludes performance information for Forensic Services which is reported to the Authority's Forensic Services Committee.
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Summary
Corporate Strategy delivery
89% of milestones due for completion within Quarter 1 were achieved. One milestone was re-profiled to Quarter 2.
99% of Quarter 1 core activity was delivered. One activity was not provided in the quarter due to a current vacancy.
The Annual Delivery Plan for 2026-27 and underlying team plans have been updated to reflect all re-profiled work and revised timescales. This will be monitored through team plans and reporting to the Leadership Team.
For full summary see SPA Corporate Strategy 2023-2026 Progress summary - Q1 2026-27
Resources
Audit – Open recommendations increased from 8 to 10. One recommendation closed - Recommendation 7 of Thematic Inspection of Road Policing in Scotland.
Risk – All corporate risks remain within appetite and tolerance – this is unchanged since Q2 2024-25.
Requests for Information – 25 received, reduced from Q4 and the same as Q1 last year. Two reviews – both upheld / partially upheld. Compliance dropped from 97% to 86% - one late response required third party engagement; two other responses had delay in information being provided by the Business Area (Forensic Services), as well as requiring third party engagement.
Subject Access Requests - 59 received, reduced from quarter four and the same quarter in the previous year. This included 53 fingerprint requests by officers retiring. No reviews received. Compliance maintained at 100%.
Security Incidents – 6 recorded, down from 12 in quarter four. No incidents related to SPA Corporate. No incidents required reporting to the ICO.
People
Staff FTE – Overall staff FTE remains lower than budgeted level of 51 FTE. Dependency on work to review the corporate structure.
Mandatory Training - Additional mandatory training approved this quarter, including E&D Upholding your Values and Corporate Parenting, which both have an initial target completion date set of end of September, and Anti Racism in-person training that will be completed over the coming months. A number of staff attended Selection Interviewing training during Q1, with others scheduled to attend in Q2. Areas under 100% are monitored monthly with reminders issued to staff and their line managers.
Absence – Absence levels remain in line with seasonal trends. Reasons for absences were varied and all except one return to work has been competed by the end of the quarter. Reason for outstanding RTW is due to a recurrence of absence before RTW could be completed. Focus on correct utilisation of Attendance Management procedure continues.
Performance
Complaints – Nil SPA Corporate related complaints received during Q1. Media Enquiries – 18 received for the Authority, which is slightly lower than in recent quarters. 100% of were answered within the requested timeframe.
Independent Custody Visiting – 30% of detainees available at the time of visits were seen, steady from 31% last quarter. 254 detainee concerns captured – 226 resolved and 28 unresolved at end of the period.
Governance Support – 100% of SPA Corporate papers for public items were published on time. Further detail on Q1 performance is available for internal purposes
