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HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland

HM INSPECTORATE OF CONSTABULARY

1. Introduction

At the National Infrastructure Forum held on 21 October 1999, HMIC reported that the police sector had been assessed as 100% "BLUE", a rating indicating that no risks to material disruption had been identified in the inspection. This confirmed the details of the sector report submitted on 1 October 1999 together with the final assessment in regard to Tayside Police submitted on 20 October 1999.

Detailed examination of the forces’ management structures, IT systems and operational and contingency planning was undertaken by HMIC in the course of an independent assessment of the police sector carried out through a thematic inspection of the sector’s readiness for the Year 2000. The inspection covered the full range of activities involved in the provision of a police service over the demanding Millennium period and was carried out between March and October, resulting in the sector being assessed 100% "BLUE".

2. Assessment Update

Since completion of the assessment for the October NIF, HMIC has maintained contact with all Scottish forces as part of the continuing monitoring phase. In addition, specific written enquiries have been made with the honorary secretary of ACPOS and the Chief Constable of Grampian Police, in his position as chairman of the ACPOS millennium working group, to establish the current position across Scotland. Positive written assurances have been received confirming the millennium readiness of the police sector. No factor has been identified that would have the potential to impact on the current "BLUE" status of police forces in Scotland. In this regard, HMIC can confirm that the sector remains 100% "BLUE".

However, a number of issues have arisen which HMIC considers noteworthy:

1. The Scottish forces have introduced a linked telephony system for the operation of a casualty bureau as part of the police response to a major incident. HMIC has been informed that the Scottish forces have entered agreements with Cable and Wireless and the facility will be in place no later than 14 December 1999, allowing other forces to handle calls from the public on behalf of a host force in the event of a major incident. This is unlikely to affect the Y2K preparedness of forces and indeed will enhance the ability of the police sector to handle incidents of a serious nature over the Millennium period.
2. Contingency plans for telephony failure were recently tested in some forces when a number of exchanges collapsed due to the demand for tickets for the recent Scotland versus England football matches. Some problems were encountered before a full service was re-established, although overall it proved a useful if unforeseen exercise.
3. The business continuity planning within the police sector in Scotland continues to develop with particular emphasis now being paid to operational events and issues as the Millennium period draws nearer.
4. Some difficulties were encountered by forces in confirming support staff availability over the millennium period and negotiations with trade unions and staff are continuing at a local level to address these matters. However, all forces and organisations within the police sector are confident the residual local issues can be resolved and that they will have sufficient support staff cover to meet their commitments and maintain operational effectiveness over the millennium period.
5. In specific regard to Tayside Police, HMIC can report that the new command and control system (CAPTOR) has continued to operate well and that there is now widespread familiarity with the system throughout the force. HMIC continues to monitor the position in Tayside and can report no issue which would have the potential to impact on its current "BLUE" status.

3. Monitoring Process

HMIC will continue to monitor developments within the police sector in Scotland to ensure that the results and "BLUE" status achieved are not affected or compromised in any way. Regular contact is being maintained both with individual forces and on a national level with ACPOS. The Scottish Police Service will have a representative at the Scottish Information Liaison Centre over the Millennium period and the eight Scottish forces will provide status reports on their progress into the Millennium to the SILC representative. While the Scottish Police Service expects demand to be heavy at the Millennium, each force has significantly increased resources to meet that demand, setting priority parameters to meet the needs of the local community each force serves.

4. Conclusion

The Scottish Police Service continues to respond with energy and commitment to the challenges faced in policing the Millennium period. HMIC is aware of no matter that would affect the 100% "BLUE" status of the police sector in Scotland.

G POWER

Assistant Inspector of Constabulary

30 November 1999

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