We publish as much information as we can about the work that we do. 

Here, you can find various documents and records relating to our investigations, Complaint Handling Reviews, publications, audits and business documents, such as our strategic and business plans, annual reports and policies. 

 

Investigations

In investigations directed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS): Our findings and report to COPFS are confidential and will not be published.

In investigations referred by the Chief Constable or other policing bodies operating in Scotland: The Commissioner may publish the conclusions unless criminal proceedings are still being considered. 

In investigations referred by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) regarding misconduct by a senior officer of the rank of ACC and above: The Commissioner is not authorised to publish reports.

 

Reviews

Whilst we consider it appropriate to be open and transparent about our work, some restrictions do apply. Our summarised CHR reports are anonymised to ensure those involved cannot be individually identified.

If you are looking for a specific document please select from the filters below and click 'filter results'.

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 830 – data sharing agreement between PIRC and COPFS

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "Per the Freedom of Information Scotland act 2002, Please provide the following information contained in your records:

    1. The information Sharing Agreement between The COPFS and The PIRC.

    2. What is the recorded date (or dates) when the Data Processor (or Controller) The PIRC entered into an Information Sharing Agreement (ISA), also known by the ICO as a Data Sharing Agreement, with COPFS relating to the sharing of personal information on Data Subjects where data/information would be defined as "sensitive" information e.g. allegations of pending criminal investigations and submissions to COPFS and medical information or alleged medical information?

    3. Please also provide any APD or DPIA that is required?"

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    1. The information sharing agreement between the PIRC and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has been incorporated into the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU is available on our website at https://pirc.scot/media/5483/copfs-pirc-mou-final-october-2021.pdf. If you have any difficulty in accessing this document please let me know and I can send a copy to you.

    2. The date of the current MoU is 21 October 2021.

    3. There have been no APD or DPIAs carried out for this agreement.

     

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 827 – gender breakdown of PIRC Investigations team

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "Per FOISA, please provide me with information contained in your records as follows:

    The Gender Breakdown in your Police Investigation Department by role and how many are former police officer's/constables?

    Please also advise if any of your Police Investigation Department have previously been employed by the Scottish Police Authority?"

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    The gender breakdown of the staff within our Investigations department, by role, is set out below. The number that are former police officers / constables in our Police Investigations Department was provided in our FOISA response reference FOI: 824. This number has not changed and is 38.

     

    Male Employees

    Female Employees

    Head of Department

    1

    0

    Senior Investigator

    4

    0

    Deputy Senior Investigator

    10

    2

    Technical Investigator

    2

    0

    Investigator

    22

    16

    Administrator

    0

    3

    TOTAL

    39

    21

    PIRC has one member of staff that was previously employed by the Scottish Police Authority.

     

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 825 – data sharing agreement between PIRC and Police Scotland

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "Per the Freedom of Information Scotland act 2002, Please provide the following information contained in your records:

    1. The information Sharing Agreement between The Police Service of Scotland (Police Scotland) and The PIRC.

    2. What is the recorded date (or dates) when the Data Processor (or Controller) The PIRC entered into an Information Sharing Agreement (ISA), also known by the ICO as a Data Sharing Agreement, with Police Scotland (Police Service of Scotland) relating to the sharing of personal information on Data Subjects where data/information would be defined as "sensitive" information e.g. allegations of pending criminal investigations and submissions to COPFS and medical information or alleged medical information?

    3. Please also provide any APD or DPIA that is required?"

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    1. The information sharing agreement between the PIRC and the Police Service of Scotland (PSoS) has been incorporated into the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the PIRC, PSoS and the Scottish Police Authority. This MoU is available on our website at https://pirc.scot/media/5374/mou-pirc-ps-spa.pdf. If you have any difficulty in accessing this document please let me know and I can send a copy to you.

    2. The date of the current MoU is 31 July 2020. Previous versions of this agreement date back to 2013 when PIRC was established.

    3. There have been no APD or DPIAs carried out for this agreement.

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 824 – number of PIRC investigators

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "The current number of people employed by the PIRC as Police Investigators, and as The PIRC helpfully advised that you have this to mean any role of Investigator you have, which are Senior Investigator, Deputy Senior Investigator, Technical Investigator and Investigator, therefore please provide the following:

    Total Number of Investigators of all levels including HEAD INVESTIGATORS?

    Total Number of HEAD INVESTIGATORS employed by the PIRC?

    Total Number of these HEAD INVESTIGATORS that are ex police officers (Constables), retired officers of any rank that were employed by Police Scotland or any other Police Constabulary within The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland?"

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    The number of investigators employed by the PIRC is outlined in the table below. It is broken down by job title and the number of investigators who previously worked as a police officer.

    Staff in Investigations Department

    Total

    Number who are ex police officer

    Head of Department

    1

    1

    Senior Investigator

    4

    4

    Deputy Senior Investigator

    12

    9

    Technical Investigator

    2

    0

    Investigator

    38

    24
     

    57

    38

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 821 – number of judicial reviews

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "In the last 5 years, how many times has the PIRC been subject to a judicial review regarding any and all responses to complainant/ complainants."

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    The number of PIRC complaint handling reviews that have been subject to a judicial review is zero. 

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 820 – PIRC guidance on complaints handling

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "Per FOISA 2002, please provide me with the information contained in your records as follows:

    The PIRC statutory guidance issued to Police Scotland, which sets out a six stage process which is the basis of all Police Scotland Complaint Handling."

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    Under Section 25(1) of FOISA we do not have to provide information which is already reasonably accessible. This guidance document is available for download from the PIRC website at https://pirc.scot/for-police/best-practice/. If you have any difficult accessing this page please let me know and we will supply the information to you.

     

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 812 – Number of ex police officers at PIRC by force

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "Since the formation of your body, could you tell me how many ex-police officers from each of the 8 force areas in Scotland have you employed, for each area."

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    Please find the requested information in the table below.

    Police Force

    Ex-officers employed by PIRC

    Strathclyde/Police Scotland

    23

    Strathclyde

    13

    Police Scotland

    5

    Central Scotland/Police Scotland

    1

    Dumfries and Galloway

    1

    Grampian Police/Police Scotland

    1

    Lothian and Borders/Police Scotland

    2

    West Dunbartonshire/Argyll and Bute/Police Scotland

    1

    Grand Total

    47

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 811 – Number of ex police officers at PIRC

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "Per FOISA 2002 please supply the following information contained in your records as follows:

    The number of ex police officers, retired officers of any rank that were employed by Police Scotland or any other Police Constabulary within The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland that are or have been employed by PIRC as Police Investigators in the last 5 years?"

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 ("FOISA"). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    The number of ex police officers previously employed by any police force within the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland employed by PIRC in the last 5 years is 47.

     

  • 27 January 2023 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 809 – payment to Dame Elish for independent police complaints review

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    "How much did Dame Elish get paid for her ‘independent police complaints review’?"

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    Under Section 25(1) of FOISA we do not have to provide information which is already reasonably accessible. This question was previously answered by the Scottish Government in the FOISA request available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-18-01815/. More specifically, the fees and expenses are on page 21 of the response to this request. If you have any difficult accessing this page please let me know and we will supply the information to you.

  • 28 October 2022 | Our Business

    FOISA Response No. 807 - Complaints statistics

    Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

    This response addressed the following query:

    “Please provide me with the following information for the time period commencing 1 April 2013 through to 19 August 2022:

    1) The total number of complaints made to PIRC for each year within the time period specified above.
    2) The total number of complaints made to PIRC that have proceeded to the Complaints Handling Review Stage for each year within the time period specified above.
    3) The total number of complaints made to PIRC that have proceeded to the Complaints Handling Review Stage and which have resulted in a recommendation being issued to the policing body for each year within the time period specified above.
    4) The total number of complaints made to PIRC that have proceeded to the Complaints Handling Review Stage and which have resulted in a reconsideration direction being issued to the policing body for each year within the time period specified above.
    5) The total number of complaints made to PIRC that have proceeded to the Complaints Handling Review Stage and which have resulted in a learning point being issued to the policing body for each year within the time period specified above.”

    The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions.

    I can confirm that we hold this information. Please find the requested information in the attached table.

     

    2013-14

    2014-15

    2015-16

    2016-17

    2017-18

    2018-19

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022 to 19/08/22

    number of applications received

    292

    281

    310

    312

    291

    258

    279

    270

    271

    77

    number of CHRs issued

    178

    277

    230

    270

    188

    137

    242

    233

    212

    70

    number of complaints resulting in a recommendation

    117

    186

    147

    174

    112

    81

    136

    123

    124

    37

    number of complaints resulting in a reconsideration direction

    0

    1

    3

    5

    23

    22

    24

    11

    10

    1

    number of complaints resulting in a learning point

    9

    5

    14

    20

    36

    40

    54

    42

    73

    16