| Chapter 8:
Response to Primary Report Recommendations |
| 8.1 The
Primary Inspection Report listed 15 recommendations and a
number of observations and issues which HMCIC felt
required to be addressed. |
| 8.2 During
the Review inspection, HMIC was unable to find any
centralised formal mechanism for responding to the
Primary report and reporting periodically on progress in
response to the recommendations, although it is
recognised that some continuity has been lost in
consequence of the retiral of a number of senior staff.
There was a wide variance in the awareness of managers
within the force, not only as to what the recommendations
had been, but about what had or had not been done to
progress them. Whilst we understand that the primary
report had been a standing item in the policy forum, we
found that some recommendations had been picked up and
dealt with by key individuals while others had apparently
not received significant attention. Some were being
satisfactorily progressed at a local level but overall it
was felt that the force could improve its arrangements in
terms of co-ordination and in the establishment of a
robust mechanism for monitoring progress. HMIC is of
the opinion that recommendations and observations should
be addressed and monitored by the centre in a systematic
manner. |
| 8.3 The
Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS)
has, since the Primary inspection was carried out, agreed
that forces should publish a response to HMIC
recommendations in Chief Constables' Annual Reports. It
is understood that there is some dispute as to how
effectively this agreement was communicated to all Chief
Constables. Nevertheless for whatever reason the 1997/98
Northern Constabulary Annual Report did not fully meet
this agreement in that it gave only a brief summary of
the main features of the Primary Inspection Report but no
reference was made to the force's response to these
recommendations. |
| 8.4 Whilst
it is understood that the Joint Police Board formally
received the Primary inspection report on 11 December
1997 and accepted a detailed report for the Chief
Constable in respect of the recommendations, it appears
that the Board has not reviewed progress since that date.
HMIC is of the opinion that Northern Constabulary
should review its system for addressing Inspectorate
recommendations and publishing its response and that the
Joint Police Board consider its own role in overseeing
the response of the force. |
| Review Inspection |
| Recommendation 9 |
| HMIC recommends that the force review its
system for addressing Inspectorate recommendations and
publishing its response and that the Joint Police Board
considers its own role in overseeing the response of the
force. |
| |
