Superintendent Jenkins graduated from Glasgow University having gained a Master of Arts degree in Archaeology and Scottish History. She joined Strathclyde Police in 1977 and gained experience in uniform patrol duties, community involvement and the force press office before working as a patrol sergeant in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. After promotion to inspector and transfer to the Training Department she took a leading role in multi agency training in relation to child abuse and reorganisation of the force's casualty bureau. During this period she also trained as a police negotiator, a role she continued to fulfil over subsequent years. In 1992 she transferred as a patrol inspector to the Dumbarton area of the force and was later promoted to chief inspector at Clydebank. Following this period of operational duty she was transferred to the Complaints and Discipline Branch in 1995 prior to taking up her post as staff officer to HMIC in May 1997.

Superintendent Clacher joined Tayside Police in 1979 following service as a police cadet. After uniform duties in Angus she transferred to the CID and was promoted sergeant in 1986 returning to uniform divisional duties. After being transferred to the Chief Constable's Office at Force Headquarters she studied law at Dundee University graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1991. After operational experience in Angus and Dundee as uniform inspector, during which she was trained as a police negotiator, she transferred to Headquarters CID as detective inspector in charge of the Force Drugs and Surveillance Branch. In 1996 she transferred to the Force Complaints and Discipline Department. Following promotion to Chief Inspector in 1997 she took up a post in Force Development and attended the European Summer Course in The Netherlands in 1997. Experience in an operational division followed until her secondment to HMIC in July 1998.

Chief Inspector Newlands graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Geography. In 1979 he joined Strathclyde Police as a graduate entrant and after gaining experience in uniform patrol and community involvement duties completed the Accelerated Promotion Scheme in 1985. In 1986, after some time as a Patrol Sergeant he was transferred to the Research and Development Branch where he formed part of a project team responsible for the development of a major computer system. Since 1992 he has worked as a patrol inspector in the Pollok and Giffnock areas of Glasgow until his secondment, in 1997, to HMIC where he is currently an additional staff officer on attachment.

This type of attachment is of great personal value to the officer involved and it represents a substantial additional commitment in support of the work of HMIC. I am particularly grateful to Mr John Orr, Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, for agreeing to Chief Inspector Newlands' appointment. Strathclyde Police's continued support of such an attachment is invaluable.