Central Scotland Police and Central Scotland Joint Police Board Best Value Audit and Inspection Prepared for the Accounts Commission and Scottish ministers July 2012 The Accounts Commission The Accounts Commission is a statutory, independent body which, through the audit process, requests local authorities in Scotland to achieve the highest standards of financial stewardship and the economic, efficient and effective use of their resources. The Commission has four main responsibilities: • securing the external audit, including the audit of Best Value and Community Planning • following up issues of concern identified through the audit, to ensure satisfactory resolutions • carrying out national performance studies to improve economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local government • issuing an annual direction to local authorities which sets out the range of performance information they are required to publish. The Commission secures the audit of 32 councils and 45 joint boards and committees (including police and fire and rescue services). Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland HMICS operates independently of police forces, police authorities and the Scottish Government and exists to monitor and improve the police service in Scotland. HMICS does this on behalf of the Scottish public by: • monitoring, through self-assessment and inspection, how effectively the police service in Scotland is fulfilling its purpose and managing risk • supporting improvement by identifying good practice, making recommendations and sharing our findings in order to achieve better outcomes for Scotland’s communities • providing advice to Scottish ministers, police authority and joint board members and police forces and services. Even though HMICS is independent of the Scottish Government, ministers can call upon the Inspectorate to undertake particular pieces of work. Audit Scotland is a statutory body set up in April 2000 under the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. It provides services to the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission. Together they ensure that the Scottish Government and public sector bodies in Scotland are held to account for the proper, efficient and effective use of public funds. Central Scotland Police and Central Scotland Joint Police Board: Best Value Audit and Inspection 1 Contents Commission findings Community leadership and Page 2 engagement Page 20 HM Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland findings Performance management and Page 3 improvement Page 21 Introduction Page 4 Use of resources Page 23 Summary Page 7 Equalities Page 25 Overall conclusions Page 8 Sustainability Page 26 Part 1. Context Page 9 Part 3. Central Scotland Police performance assessment The local context Page 28 Central Scotland Joint Police Board Public reassurance and community Page 10 safety Page 29 Central Scotland Police Page 11 Criminal justice and tackling crime Page 30 Part 2. Corporate assessment Page 13 Service response Page 31 Vision and strategic direction Page 14 Part 4. Improvement recommendations Governance and accountability Page 33 Page 15 Appendix 1. Expectations of police Partnership working and authorities community leadership Page 35 Page 19 2 Commission findings 1. This is the seventh audit and Commission further notes that Her inspection report on the performance Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary by a police authority and force of their for Scotland is conducting an statutory duties on Best Value and independent review of the case. Community Planning. It has been produced jointly by the Controller of 5. The board receives good-quality Audit and Her Majesty’s Inspector performance information which has of Constabulary for Scotland. The helped the board provide effective Accounts Commission accepts the scrutiny of the force. This could report from the Controller of Audit on be improved further by having Central Scotland Police and Central implications of decisions – such as in Scotland Joint Police Board. In relation to finance and sustainability – accordance with the Commission’s better explained in reports considered statutory responsibilities, these by the board. The board needs to findings relate only to the Best Value get better at overseeing workforce audit of the police authority. planning; some specialist priorities such as serious organised crime 2. The Commission finds that and multi-agency public protection; Central Scotland Joint Police Board and equalities issues where the Lay fulfils its responsibilities well and Diversity Advisor scheme has the has demonstrated many of the key potential to be used more effectively. elements of best value. Better reporting by the board of its activities to the public is also needed. 3. The board has an effective relationship with Central Scotland 6. The Commission is encouraged Police that is based on a shared vision that the board recognises that with a strong focus on community partnership working can be enhanced policing. There is also clarity of through members engaging more respective roles and good working consistently in partnership activities. relationships. The Commission welcomes the board’s self-awareness; 7. The Commission gratefully it knows how it can improve further acknowledges the co-operation and and this can be seen in a strong assistance provided to the joint audit transitional workplan. and inspection team by the elected members of Falkirk, Stirling and 4. This is a time of significant change Clackmannanshire Councils, the chief and the Commission urges the constable and officers of Central board to prioritise the improvements Scotland Police, and other officials and contained in its transitional workplan community planning partners. to ensure its full effectiveness. The board needs to assure itself that 8. The Commission welcomes the its support arrangements, including continued joint approach with Her analytical support, are sufficient to Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary allow it to meet its responsibilities and for Scotland on these police audit and implement its transitional workplan. inspection reports, which is having a The Commission notes that the significant contribution to stimulating board has recently spent a significant more effective and streamlined amount of time dealing with an scrutiny and to driving commitment to ongoing conduct investigation. The securing best value. 3 HM Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland findings 1. As Her Majesty’s Inspector of is in the context of a force and 7. The joint audit and inspection Constabulary for Scotland, I hold a board that are performing well. For approach adopted in the preparation statutory responsibility to inspect both example, the improvements made of this report continues to develop Central Scotland Police and Central to the force strategic framework and is contributing towards a more Scotland Joint Police Board. I concur would benefit from the board having effective scrutiny regime that with the Accounts Commission access to them, in particular the demonstrates our commitment findings on the Best Value and Force Improvement Plan. I would to achieving best value in Scottish Community Planning performance also highlight that the force should policing. of Central Scotland Joint Police Board evaluate the effectiveness of its and offer the following comment on partnership working with a view the performance of Central Scotland to sharing good practice across Police. the police area and nationally. Similarly, the force should review its 2. My overall assessment of Central community policing model, Police Scotland Police is that its performance and Communities Together, to is good and that the force improve the quality and consistency demonstrates many of the elements of analysis, intelligence and sharing of best value. The force executive of good practice. And while the enjoys the confidence and support force can demonstrate a strong of the board, strategic partners and commitment to diverse communities staff, despite having gone through a within the police area, I would significant period of change and as it recommend that it revisits the lead prepares for the transition to a single arrangements for equality issues to police force in April 2013. ensure they are fit for purpose. 3. The force has made improvements 5. I look forward to receiving a plan to the way it manages strategy, from Central Scotland Police and change and performance and the Central Scotland Joint Police Board overall strategic framework is now which addresses the improvement more cohesive and enhanced through agenda set out in this joint audit and effective use of IT. The force has inspection report. worked with the board to ensure community policing remains a priority 6. I also wish to acknowledge my while at the same time building strong gratitude for the co-operation and alliances and partnerships across assistance afforded to the joint the Forth Valley. Public satisfaction audit and inspection team by the is improving and overall crime rates chief constable, officers and staff of continue to fall, detection rates remain Central Scotland Police, the convener high and the force continues to and elected members of Central show good stewardship in the way it Scotland Joint Police Board, the chief manages its resources. executives and staff providing support to the joint police board, and other 4. As is the nature of inspection officials and community planning work, there are areas identified partners. for further improvement, but this 4 Introduction Introduction 5 This joint