Report Summary
The roles and responsibilities of the Scottish Police Authority (the Authority) and Police Scotland in relation to strategic planning are set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 at Sections 34 and 35.
Under the Act, the Authority is responsible for producing a Strategic Police Plan and involves the Chief Constable of Police Scotland in developing it.
The alignment of strategic direction, priorities for policing, planning and performance assessment is articulated in this Plan.
This Strategic Police Plan for Scotland requires ministerial approval prior to publication and laying before Parliament.
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Oversight of Implementation and Reporting
The Scottish Police Authority lays an Annual Report and Accounts in Parliament each year, reflecting the delivery of policing in Scotland in the preceding financial year ending on 31 March.
This report brings together the assessment of policing performance and effectiveness with a detailed account of the way the policing budget has been allocated to deliver on the policing purpose of improving the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities in Scotland.
The evidence base to inform this assessment is comprehensive and the process runs throughout the year. The Authority Board Committees receive detailed quarterly performance reports on the progress made by Police Scotland, Forensic Services and the SPA Corporate Team against the annual commitments and milestones laid out in the relevant national and local delivery plans.
In June the Chief Constable makes a formal assessment of Police Scotland’s performance and reports that to the Authority in public.
The Authority engages directly with COSLA and every local authority in Scotland to invite evidence on the level of policing performance experienced in their communities, in order to shape the annual report.
The Authority also seeks and incorporates evidence of performance from key stakeholders and partners such as Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Audit Scotland, COPFS, PIRC, the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner and its own Internal Audit function.
