Scottish Criminal Record Office Primary Inspection 2004
Appendix A
3rd Year Review of the SCRO Fingerprint Bureau
Positional Statement on Outstanding Recommendations of the 2000 Primary Inspection
Recommendation 1 - HMIC recommends that the SCRO oversight management structure be reformed as part of repositioning SCRO within a new Common Police Services arrangement. (paragraph 2.7.5)
This has been achieved with the establishment of the CPS Programme Board and the SCRO Senior Users Group. The recommendation is discharged.
Recommendation 4 - HMIC recommends that the APRT scope the demands now and into the near future to determine the staff levels required. This exercise should include maximising the value that fingerprint evidence has for the prevention and detection of crime and take full account of available and emerging technological advances. (paragraph 3.1.8)
Scoping was completed by APRT. In addition, the document entitled 'Report to Establish an Appropriate Authorised Bureau Establishment of Fingerprint Experts', published by SCRO in September 2004 addresses this recommendation which is now discharged.
Recommendation 6 - HMIC recommends that the concept of 'authorisation' needs further consideration. (paragraph 3.5.5)
Authorisation of fingerprint experts based on the assessment of competency, rather than completion of a training timescale was formalised by the Scottish Executive in 2003. In tandem with preparation for a transfer to a non-numeric fingerprint standard, the SFS has actively encouraged membership of the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP). Upon completion of training, fingerprint experts undergo CRFP accreditation with the support of SFS and agreement with trades union. The recommendation is discharged.
Recommendation 10 - HMIC recommends that a strategy is introduced for staff within all fingerprint bureaux and identification branches to offer staff support and to assist in the detection and prevention of stress related illness resulting in absence from work. (paragraph 4.8.2)
Significant progress has been made in working conditions and ergonomic improvements to workstations have been introduced throughout SFS. Additional training, quality assurance and support mechanisms have also been implemented. In relation to staff at the Glasgow Bureau, self-referral to Strathclyde Police's Occupational Health and Welfare Unit is actively encouraged where appropriate and employees have access to a free, independent employee assistance programme introduced during 2004. Complementary arrangements exist at the Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh Bureaux. Sickness levels have been reduced and the recommendation can be discharged.
Recommendation 15 - HMIC recommends that managing the change to a non-numeric standard should be addressed at a very early point by the APRT. (paragraph 6.8.9)
Management of change in relation to a non-numeric standard was addressed by APRT. The SFS has undertaken significant and sustained preparation in anticipation of the non-numeric standard being introduced on the approval of the Lord Advocate. The recommendation is discharged.
Recommendation 17 - HMIC recommends that regular refresher training should be incorporated into a national training standard for fingerprint experts to ensure that expertise is maintained at the highest level taking account of developments in theory and technology. (paragraph 7.5.4)
A continuous professional development programme for all experts within the service was initiated in 2003. This is a one week course covering third level detail, ridgeology, non-numeric standard, palm capture/search, court presentation and awareness and legislative changes. The programme is scheduled to take place annually, with experts attending at least every 3 years. The recommendation is discharged.
Recommendation 23 - HMIC recommends that practices be reviewed with a view to introducing a system, which increases the independence within the identification/ verification process. (paragraph 8.15.2)
Organisational restructuring within the Glasgow Bureau has enhanced the independence of the verification process, achieving anonymity and ensuring greater integrity to the process. All second verifications are carried out by a team comprising principal fingerprint officers and a quality/performance team enhances the internal auditing of processes and increases the incidence of random case review. Outwith the Glasgow Bureau, smaller staff numbers make anonymity of verification problematic but SFS is actively working towards an effective solution. The recommendation is discharged.
Recommendation 25 - HMIC recommends that the APRT look closely at the development of the National Council for Registration of Forensic Practitioners and give consideration as to how Scotland can capitalise on this new Council. (paragraph 8.19.5)
The SFS has readily embraced CRFP, providing support and financial assistance to encourage registration of its experts with this voluntary body. To date, an 86% registration rate for SFS has been achieved, placing it in the higher range of CRFP registration on a UK basis. The recommendation is discharged.
Appendix B
3rd Year Review of the SCRO Fingerprint Bureau
Positional Statement on Outstanding Suggestions of the 2000 Primary Inspection
S7 - HMIC suggests the Crown Office guidance on who can take fingerprints receives renewed attention by all forces. (paragraph 3.14.4)
The SFS has actively encouraged the taking of fingerprints from all persons brought into police custody and the matter has been progressed within the ACPOS Crime Business Area. During the first quarter of 2004-05, a 25% increase in fingerprint tenprints was achieved. The suggestion is discharged.
S10 - HMIC would support SCRO in highlighting the importance of submitting elimination prints as a matter of routine and suggests that the setting of targets in this respect may assist. (paragraph 5.15.3)
A clear policy of incremental targets was approved by the ACPOS Crime Business Area and incorporated into the SFS National Procedures Manual. The suggestion is discharged.
S11 - HMIC suggests that all staff involved in fingerprinting in Scotland require greater awareness of Section 19 to eliminate the confusion, which currently exists in this area. (paragraph 5.18.6)
The Fingerprint Policy Group obtained Crown Office interpretation and views on the instruction contained in Section 19 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 and disseminated this across the Scottish forces, achieving the awareness required. It is recognised that further guidance may be of benefit and this is being actively sought by the SFS. In the meantime, the suggestion can be discharged.
S12 - HMIC suggests that the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners may provide a suitable reference point for benchmarking the police and the independent review process to deal with disputed and erroneous fingerprint identifications. (paragraph 5.20.5)
Although CRFP does not provide a benchmarking capability, statistical performance information for each Scottish Bureau has now been incorporated into the SFS National Procedures Manual, allowing basic comparison. Furthermore, the OMS database allows cross-bureau comparison of performance within Scotland. A benchmarking exercise surrounding the verification process has been conducted with Greater Manchester Police and a programme of benchmarking against other bureaux in England and Wales has been initiated. The suggestion is discharged.
S19 - HMIC suggests that the adoption of a code of ethics should be an integral part of the change proposed for SCRO. (paragraph 8.18.1)
A code of ethics, approved by ACPOS, has been incorporated into the SFS National Procedures Manual. This establishes a clear set of principles which underpin the service's commitment to integrity. The suggestion is discharged.