Related Downloads
Additional
Other inspectorate activity
Strategic Plan 2022-25
56. This year, we continued to take forward the objectives set out in our Strategic Plan 2022-25. This has included a range of initiatives to improve our own approach to inspection so that we might better support continuous improvement in the service provided by COPFS. For example, we commenced a review of our Inspection Framework.[19] This framework guides our scrutiny activity, ensuring a consistent, professional and transparent approach to our work.
57. We have continued to raise awareness of and engagement and confidence in our inspection activity by:
- maintaining our website which was first launched in March 2023. This has included successfully using the website as a tool to engage people in our inspection of the prosecution of domestic abuse at sheriff summary level
- raising the profile of the scrutiny carried out by the inspectorate by speaking at a range of events throughout 2023-24 about the findings of our joint review of diversion from prosecution as well as about the work of IPS more generally
- promoting awareness of the inspectorate’s work among COPFS staff by posting a series of articles about recent and upcoming inspections on the COPFS intranet
- reviewing and improving the dissemination strategy for each of our publications to ensure they reach their target audience.
58. To improve our organisational resilience, we have reviewed our staffing model. This resulted in IPS replacing the role of seconded Assistant Inspector of Prosecution with a permanent position. A new, permanent Assistant Inspector of Prosecution was appointed in July 2023. This has provided a greater degree of stability in a small team, boosts our resilience and allows for a longer-term return on the investment we make in the training and development of staff.
New premises
59. For many years, the inspectorate had been hosted in office accommodation provided in kind by COPFS. In 2020-21, we decided to seek new premises which would afford us the opportunity to reinforce our status as an independent inspectorate. We secured accommodation within the Scottish Government’s estate and moved to our new premises at 5 Atlantic Quay in Glasgow in early 2024. We are grateful to COPFS for hosting us over many years, and to the Scottish Government’s estates team who facilitated our move.