Scottish Crime Recording Board minutes: February 2024

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• David Smith (Chair), Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Susan Carsley, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Emily MacLaren, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• Catherine Mcauley, Scottish Government: Justice ASD
• George Cordiner, Police Scotland: Local Police Program
• Lorraine Ramsey, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Lynne White, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Derek Johnstone, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Ashley MacRobert, Police Scotland: Crime Registrar
• Angela Wood, Police Scotland: Policy, Audit, Risk and Assurance
• Annie Crowley, HMICS
• Debbie Kyle, HMICS
• Gillian Cherry, Police Scotland: Demand and Productivity Unit
• Stephen Reid, Police Scotland: Analysis and Performance Unit
• Jennie Clarke, MOD: Crime Registrar
• Fiona Roberts, COPFS
• Julie Metcalf, British Transport Police: Crime and Justice Unit
• Matthew Kirk, Scottish Police Authority

 

Apologies

• Mark Hollinsworth, Police Scotland: Analysis and Performance Unit
• Tina MacLucas, Police Scotland

Items and actions

Agenda

• Introductions
• Apologies
• Actions from previous Meeting
• PS update on Improvement Plan/Audit Recommendations
• HMICS audit update
• Update on roll out of new crime recording system and internal audits, impact on quality of statistics, and the Office for Statistics Regulation’s Quality Review of recorded crime statistics in England & Wales
• Update on Accredited Official Statistics Recorded Crime Publications
• Update on recording practice for children in care pilot
• Proposed coding changes; Common Assault
• Proposed coding changes: All other changes
• SCRS amendments for 2024/25
• Any other Business
• Date of Next Meeting: Likely to be around October

 

Actions arising from meeting 19:

PS update on Improvement Plan/Audit Recommendations

Justice Analytical Services to update the 2023/24 Accredited Official Statistics and (or) User Guide to reflect the current position on (i) Police Scotland’s internal crime audit process and how this has evolved with the roll out of UNIFI and (ii) plans for an external audit of crime recording by HMICS in 2025.

 

Update on roll out of new crime recording system and internal audits, impact on quality of statistics, and the Office for Statistics Regulation’s Quality Review of recorded crime statistics in England & Wales

Justice Analytical Services to update User Guide to reflect all UNIFI-related actions and changes, members to contribute to the re-draft. Justice Analytical Services to publish in June alongside the  recorded crime statistics for 2023/24.

 

Update on Accredited Official Statistics Recorded Crime Publications

Justice Analytical Services to set up and chair a new Data Sub Group to consider how the UNIFI system could add further value to the recorded crime statistics and to report back to future Crime boards on its findings. Members to inform JAS if they’d like to join the group.

 

Proposed Coding Changes: Common Assault

Following Board approval, changes to the recording of assault will be introduced from 1 April 2024. This will include the splitting of common assault into with/without injury and new crime codes to specifically identify assault of police officer/staff.

 

Proposed Coding Changes: All other changes

Following Board approval, new crime codes (and associated changes) will be introduced from 1 April 2024, to reflect the offences included within the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act.

 

SCRS amendments for 2024/25

Justice Analytical Services to publish the updated Scottish Crime Recording Standard manual.