This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency
08/06/2006
The Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) has demonstrated significant progress in its work according to a report published today by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).
The review report focuses on the SDEA's current activities, including action taken in response to the recommendations from HMIC's 2003 primary inspection and preparations for changes being introduced through the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.
Of the 21 recommendations contained in the primary inspection report, seven were discharged during the first review inspection in 2004 and a further eight have been discharged and another one partially discharged during this second review inspection.
The latest recommendations discharged include the development of a strategy for responding to organised crime, improvements to the accounting structure and legislation to deliver appropriate powers for the Director General.
The five remaining recommendations still to be discharged will be examined during the next primary inspection in 2007.
Malcolm Dickson, Assistant Inspector of Constabulary, said:
"The Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency, together with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), has continued its positive work following the primary inspection report of 2003 and review inspection of 2004.
"While work on some of the recommendations is not yet complete, the Agency and ACPOS have made considerable progress.
"The Agency is a valued part of policing in Scotland and beyond. They are well prepared to continue and improve upon that in their move to a revised status following changes from the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill. "
The five undischarged recommendations are:
- For the SDEA to undertake promotional activity to explain its requirements and outline duties of staff, to improve the gender balance within the organisation
- For the SDEA to establish processes and policies that will support best use of staff and clarify adherence to good practice in terms of equal opportunity
- For ACPOS to conclude its consideration of firearms support for surveillance activity so that national guidelines are clearly understood and any resulting training requirements can be addressed
- For the SDEA to prepare an IT strategy in support of its strategic aims
- For the SDEA to conduct a full review of its management of overtime and subsistence with a view to managing down its overtime needs to achieve a better work-life balance for its officers
As part of the inspection process, HMIC also examined several other areas including race relations, disability discrimination, partnership working with the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, progress on the implementation of Airwave communication technology and management processes for the Freedom of Information Act.
HMIC acknowledges the positive progress being made by the SDEA and ACPOS across a number of areas, further developing the contribution made by the Agency to reducing the harm caused by drugs in communities.
In particular the SDEA and ACPOS have worked to ensure that a sound strategic framework is in place for the Agency at a time of change to organisations and structures within the UK. This is combined with practical integration of National Intelligence Model processes so that operational activity is prioritised by objective assessment of the available intelligence at national and local levels.