Inspections
26Inspections of the Authority’s services and the Agency
(1)The inspectors of constabulary must, from time to time, carry out an inspection of the police support services provided by the Authority for the purpose of ascertaining the efficiency and effectiveness of those services.
(2)The inspectors of constabulary must, from time to time, carry out an inspection of the Agency for the purpose of ascertaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the Agency.
(3)The inspectors of constabulary must, in relation to any inspection carried out by virtue of subsection (1) or (2), publish a report on their findings.
27Inspections of the Authority at request of the Scottish Ministers
(1)The Scottish Ministers may require the inspectors of constabulary to carry out an inspection of the Authority (or part of the Authority) for the purpose of ascertaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the Authority (or part).
(2)The Scottish Ministers may require the inspectors of constabulary to carry out an inspection of—
(a)any of the Authority’s functions or activities for the purpose of ascertaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the Authority in carrying out those functions or, as the case may be, activities;
(b)any of the Authority’s services for the purpose of ascertaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the Authority in providing, or securing the provision of, those services.
(3)The inspectors must, in relation to any inspection carried out by virtue of subsection (1) or (2), publish a report on their findings.
28Reports on inspections: powers of the Scottish Ministers
(1)This section applies where a report published under section 27(3) states—
(a)that, in the opinion of the person making the report, the whole or any part of the Authority or any of the police support services which it provides is (whether generally or in particular respects) not efficient or effective; or
(b)that, in that person’s opinion, the whole or any part of the Authority or any of the police support services which it provides will cease to be efficient or effective (whether generally or in particular respects) unless remedial measures are taken.
(2)If the Scottish Ministers consider that remedial measures are required in respect of any matters identified by the report, they may direct the Authority to submit to them an action plan within such period (being a period ending at least 4, and not more than 12, weeks after the date on which the direction is given) as is specified in the direction.
(3)An action plan is a plan setting out the remedial measures which the Authority proposes to take in relation to the matters in respect of which the direction is given.
(4)If this section applies at a time when there is already an action plan in force—
(a)references in this section to an action plan include references to revisions of the existing plan; and
(b)the other provisions of this section have effect accordingly.
29Revision of inadequate action plan
(1)This section applies where the Scottish Ministers determine that any remedial measures contained in an action plan submitted to them under section 28 are inadequate.
(2)The Scottish Ministers must notify the Authority of that determination and their reasons for it.
(3)On receipt of a notification under subsection (2) the Authority must—
(a)consider whether to revise the plan in the light of the matters notified to it; and
(b)if it does revise the plan, send a copy of the revised plan to the Scottish Ministers.