Scottish Crime Recording Board minutes: February 2022

Attendees and apologies

• David Smith (Chair), Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Susan Carsley, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Anna MacKinnon, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Graeme Lloyd, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Emily MacLaren, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Alan Sommerville, Police Scotland: Specialist Crime Division
• Bob Kennedy, Police Scotland: National Crime Registrar
• Lorraine Ramsay, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Colin Bain, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Lynne White, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Derek Johnstone, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Angela Wood, Police Scotland: Governance, Audit and Assurance
• Mark Hollinsworth, Police Scotland: Analysis and Performance Unit
• Eamon McElroy, Police Scotland: Demand and Productivity Unit
• Kieran Maher, British Transport Police
• Alisdair Burnie, British Transport Police
• Fiona Roberts, COPFS
• Dawn Lewington, HMICS
• Claire McGarry, Scottish Police Authority
• Matthew Kirk, Scottish Police Authority

Apologies

• Tina MacLucas, Police Scotland: Analysis and Performance Unit
• Jim McCormick, Police Scotland: Analysis and Performance Unit
• Gillian Cherry, Police Scotland: Demand and Productivity Unit
• Laura McLuckie, Police Scotland: Specialist Crime Division

Items and actions

Agenda

• introductions
• apologies
• actions from previous meeting
• Police Scotland update on Internal Audits
• Police Scotland update on Improvement Plan
• regular update on roll out of new crime recording system
• reflections on latest National Statistics publication
• recommendations for Board discussion
• update on recording practice for children in care pilot
• update on Age of Criminal Responsibility Act
• proposed coding changes
• SCRS amendments for 2022/23
• any other business
• date of next meeting: tbc

Actions arising from meeting 17 (updated on 15 May 2023 with outcomes following 6 March 2023 meeting)

Police Scotland update on Internal Audits

Police Scotland to provide Crime Board with an update on their plans to re-profile the internal audit process, so that it is best aligned with the rollout of the new crime management system. Members to offer any feedback they may have.

Outcome: Police Scotland provided an update under item 6 of the March 2023 meeting.

Police Scotland update on Improvement Plan

Justice Analytical Services and Police Scotland to discuss and finalise plans to create an accessible-format version of the SCRS manual for the SG website.

Outcome: Action complete, with SCRS manual subsequently published on SG website.

Reflections on latest National Statistics Publication

Justice Analytical Services to share the cyber-crime deep dive methodology with Crime Board members, for any feedback, prior to starting the 2021/22 deep dive.

Outcome: Action complete.

Recommendations for Board discussion

Reflecting feedback at Board, technical Working Group to further consider the definition for Common Assault with/without injury, prior to its implementation once the new crime management system is fully rolled out.

Outcome: Action pending, the definitions will remain under consideration prior to full roll-out of the new crime management system.

Recommendations for Board discussion

Following publication of the consultation outcome report (action 17/06) and a meeting of the sub-group, Justice Analytical Services to provide the Board with a technical paper which will outline the methodology to be used for production of the recorded crime statistics.

Outcome: Action complete.

Recommendations for Board discussion

Justice Analytical Services to share the summary of responses to the consultation and resulting actions with Crime Board for review/feedback, prior to publication.

Outcome: Action complete.

Proposed Coding Changes

Following Board approval, the three Proceeds of Crime Act codes to be merged into one. Justice Analytical Services to inform users of this change in next National Statistics publication.

Outcome: Action complete.

SCRS amendments for 2022/23

Police Scotland to circulate changes to the SCRS manual for 2022/3 for feedback/approval by Board.

Outcome: Action complete.