Concern over 'failing' police board

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Members of Tayside Joint Police Board have been accused of not understanding their role and failing to achieve best value.

In contrast the area police force has been praised for "making good progress" in important areas.

The findings were published in a joint report by the Accounts Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS).

And the commission believes the board's "lack of clarity" about its responsibilities could be a nation-wide problem not unique to Tayside. It recommends that the Scottish Government, COSLA and ACPOS should consider making existing guidance on their role clearer if that is proved to be the case.

The Best Value Audit and Inspection: Tayside Police and Tayside Joint Police Board is the first Best Value report on a Scottish police force and police authority.

It concluded that despite the board not achieving best value there is a strong commitment from it to support the chief constable and that working relationships are good.

Accounts Commission chairman John Baillie said: "Board members have an important role to play in the governance of police services. But until members of the Tayside Joint Police Board have a clearer understanding of what that role is it will not be able to achieve best value or effectively hold the Chief Constable to account. Members need more support to improve their knowledge and understanding of their role, which should include setting the direction and priorities of the force and scrutinising its performance."

HMICS's performance assessment of the police force showed that it has been successful in reducing offences associated with anti-social behaviour and is proactive in targeting drug dealing.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Bill Skelly said: "Recorded crimes of vandalism are often used as a measure of anti-social behaviour. It is encouraging to see that in Tayside these went down by 10 per cent in 2008/09. The force's proactive approach to targeting drug dealing also resulted in it recording its highest ever number of class A offences in 2008/09. However the public perception is that anti-social behaviour and drug related problems have both increased. More emphasis on community engagement would help to address this."

Tayside Police Acting Chief Constable Justine Curran responded: "The report recognises that Tayside Police enjoys a good working relationship with the Tayside Joint Police Board. We are open and transparent with one another at level and share a commitment to deliver the highest standards of service possible to the people of Tayside.

''Tayside Police operates on an ethos of continuous improvement and following the joint inspection we have implemented an improvement plan to ensure that matters raised can be addressed where appropriate."

An improvement plan has also been implemented by the board following the inspection. Tayside Joint Police Board convener Councillor Ian Mackintosh added: ''However, it is important to stress that the board is not nor has it ever been in any way complacent about its responsibilities in supporting Tayside Police scrutinising the force and, if appropriate, holding it to account.

''We were the first board and force to be the subjects of this type of joint inspection. We fully anticipate that issues raised as a part of the Tayside inspection are not dissimilar to those that will be found elsewhere. By breaking this new ground we hope can provide lessons for all of Scotland's boards and forces.''