SPA Policing Performance Committee meeting - 15 June 2023

On Thursday 15 June, the SPA Policing Performance Committee will consider our recent assurance reviews which examined the acquisition of biometric data from children and vulnerable adults arrested by the police.

In advance of the meeting, Assistant Chief Constable Bex Smith has written to the Commissioner confirming that Police Scotland accepts the 4 recommendations arising from the assurance reviews and will now commence activity to implement those recommendations in full.

The Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow has today said ‘the recommendations that we have made are aligned to our statutory function of supporting and promoting the adoption of lawful, effective, and ethical practices. I am grateful to the Scottish Police Authority our strategic partner during these reviews, and to Police Scotland for agreeing to implement these recommendations in full. Doing so will enhance the “right to information” for data subjects, better protect children, and place better information in the public domain to maintain public confidence and trust in the use of biometric data and technologies for policing and criminal justice purposes’.

The Commissioner and Operations Manager will be participating in the SPA meeting on Friday which can be viewed on Livestream.