HMIC Recommendation

CMRT Response

Action by

Target Timescale

1

HMIC recognises that the recommendations and suggestions in this report go beyond the remit of SCRO Executive Committee and, if accepted, impact on all Police Forces, The Scottish Executive and other areas of the criminal justice system. It would be helpful if a single reference point had the responsibility to consider the issues in the first instance and as the APRT has been established HMIC, mindful of the responsibility of other stakeholders, suggests that this group is uniquely placed to undertake that role. (paragraph xvi)

Change Management Review Team formed to conduct scrutiny and provide this report.
Project Board and Project Management Team established to co-ordinate and develop the response of the SCRO Executive Committee.

SCRO Executive Committee

Partially completed by compilation of this report
The Project Management Team should have made significant progress on all recommendations and suggestions by April 2001

2

In essence the job description (Director, SCRO) does not reflect the legal position and requires emendation and HMIC suggests this be done. (paragraph 2.5.7)

Already addressed by the Director of SCRO.

SCRO

Complete

3

HMIC suggests that new service level agreements between SCRO and the eight Scottish forces are progressed by the APRT. (paragraph 2.6.6)

For early consideration by the 8FSG

8FSG

To allow for movement towards a new structure October 2001

4

HMIC suggests that the number of training staff required be addressed by the APRT, taking account of the structures and functionality put in place. (paragraph 2.12.1)

Outcome depends on chosen structural model. Training Forum of 8FSG to give early consideration of training needs of all fingerprint bureaux.

8FSG

October 2001

5

There is a need to debate the appropriateness of the dual role of some fingerprint experts. HMIC suggests this issue should be part of the APRT review. As part of that review the issue of whether police officers, into the future, should be trained as fingerprint experts or the whole cadre of experts be comprised wholly from support staff should be addressed. (paragraph 2.15.6)

CMRT believes that the appropriateness of the dual role is significantly linked to structure. Consequently, its future use is dependant on the structure adopted.
CMRT suggests that the training of police officers as fingerprint experts is no longer appropriate.

SCRO Executive Committee
ACPOS

Early consideration of CMRT views

6

HMIC suggests that a resource audit is undertaken to determine the appropriate number of AFR terminals for Scotland. (paragraph 3.12.2)

Appropriateness of number and location is dependent on the structure adopted.
In the interim period CMRT favour a workstation being available in each bureaux.

SCRO Executive Committee

Interim development by April 2001

7

HMIC suggests that the Crown Office guidance on who can take fingerprints receives renewed attention by all Forces. (paragraph 3.14.4)

CMRT recognises the need for forces to reflect on the views of HMIC.

ACPOS Crime Standing Committee

Early consideration of HMIC's views

8

HMIC suggests that mark to mark searching on AFR is an issue that the APRT needs to consider in scoping the resources and equipment needed to provide an efficient and effective service. (paragraph 5.3.12)

CMRT have incorporated this issue in the structural modelling exercise and would support the full use of AFR facilities. In the interim, progress could be made by locating an AFR workstation in each fingerprint bureau.

SCRO Executive Committee

SCRO with suitable structural progress October 2001

9

HMIC suggests that the policy of taking fingerprints from all persons where the law allows be pursued with vigour as this offers a singular opportunity to prevent and detect crime. (paragraph 5.4.7)

CMRT supports this policy.

ACPOS Crime Standing Committee

October 2001 subject to progress on chosen structure

10

HMIC would support SCRO in highlighting the importance of submitting elimination prints as a matter of routine and suggests that the setting of targets in this respect may assist. (paragraph 5.15.3)

CMRT supports the practice of submitting the fullest possible number of elimination prints.
8FSG should consider the matter of target setting as part of a wider review of performance indicators.

8FSG
ACPOS Crime Standing Committee

Revised policy to be based on targets set by 8FSG Implementation by April 2001

11

HMIC suggests that all staff involved in fingerprinting in Scotland require greater awareness of Section 19 to eliminate the confusion which currently exists in this area. (paragraph 5.18.6)

CMRT research has identified this is a wider issue requiring the co-operation of Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service to progress. It is suggested that ACPOS (Crime) seeks the support of the Crown Agent while forces raise the issue as part of their routine liaison with Procurators Fiscal.

ACPOS Crime Standing Committee
ACPOS

Early consideration of these matters

12

HMIC suggests that the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners may provide a suitable reference point for benchmarking the policy and the independent review process to deal with disputed and erroneous fingerprint identifications. (paragraph 5.20.5)

While CRFP have indicated this is not a role they consider appropriate for themselves at this time, CMRT supports the need for a clear policy on this matter which will be developed by the 8FSG.

8FSG

April 2001

13

HMIC suggests that all bureaux agree common Quality Assurance processes using the co-ordinating influence of. the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (paragraph 6.3.4)

While this is not a role considered appropriate by CRFP, the CMRT supports the view that there is a need for the development of national processes. Current development of ISO9002 by SCRO will lead to accreditation by December 2000

8FSG

October 2001

14

HMIC suggests that "blind trials" are another tool that is worthy of consideration. (paragraph 6.6.1)

CMRT accepts that blind trials can be a useful quality assurance tool, however, considers that the range of other quality assurance measures proposed should be given priority.

ACPOS Crime Standing Committee

Early consideration of HMIC's suggestion and CMRT view.

15

HMIC suggests that the APRT give the issue of gathering common statistical performance information early attention. (paragraph 6.7.5)

Early consideration by 8FSG. SCRO to consider in therms of OMS specification.

8FSG
ACPOS Crime Standing Committee

Implemented by April 2001

16

HMIC suggests a strategic re-assessment of how training is delivered is necessary and should be undertaken by the APRT. (paragraph 7.2.8)

SCRO now procuring all national training from NTC Durham
Training Forum of 8FSG to review training needs for all bureaux.

8FSG

Detailed proposals by October 2001

17

MIC suggests that where the exigencies of workloads permit, liaison and networking with staff from other bureaux should be encouraged among all fingerprint staff. (paragraph 8.13.4)

Move of all SCRO national training to NTC Durham is of value as is the development of the 8FSG.
8FSG to consider development of the process.

ACPOS Crime Standing Committee
8FSG

Ongoing review

18

HMIC suggests that SCRO, in the development of its corporate identity, address the need for a more open and transparent culture within the organisation as a whole. (paragraph 8.14.2)

Move to Pacific Quay is an important first step. Development will depend on structural model chosen, and thereafter consideration of a change of name.

SCRO Executive Committee

Ongoing review

19

HMIC suggests that the adoption of a code of ethics should be an integral part of the change proposed for SCRO. (paragraph 8.18.1)

Early consideration by 8FSG as a priority issue.

8FSG

December 2000

20

HMIC suggests that SCRO develops a general media policy and appoints a media liaison officer as part of the corporate identity project recommended in paragraph 8.12.4. (paragraph 8.20.1)

The role of the media requires to be embraced by all organisations. The involvement of SCRO is comparatively rare and it is suggested that such advice and assistance is outsourced as appropriate to the chosen structure.

SCRO Executive Committee
SCRO

October 2001