Introduction to the Role of Forensic Medical Examiner

1. Introduction to the Role of Forensic Medical Examiner • Alistair Armour Inspector Custody Division Healthcare/Forensic Medical Services Project Johnstone Police Office T/N: External - 01505 404050

2. Introduction to the Role of Forensic Medical Examiner • Healthcare Project Update • Overview of Police Scotland • Overview of Custody Division • Overview of Counter Terrorism • Complaints About the Police • Fatal Accidents.

3. Healthcare Project Update

4. Healthcare Project update • There is Ministerial agreement that • Responsibility for the delivery of healthcare in police custody which is a function of Health Boards under the terms of the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978 should remain the function and responsibility of Health Boards; • Forensic medical services should be delivered by the Health Boards but remain a function and responsibility (with effect from 1 April 2013) of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) under section 31 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012; • Reflecting those responsibilities, healthcare and forensics should be delivered as part of a combined service; • Funding for healthcare in custody and forensic medical services should transfer from the police to Health Boards; • Whilst working towards partnership agreements with Health Boards, the police should continue their current arrangements for the delivery of services.

5. Healthcare Project update • WHY? • Nationally Consistent Management & Governance • Increased Efficiency • Improved Effectiveness • Reduce Risk to Police Scotland – FAI and HMIC recommendations • Equality of service across Scotland – but not the same provision • Facilitation of preventative collaborative interventions to improve individual and community wellbeing and reduce demand. • This links to the NHS Strategic Narrative for 2020, where the vision is that (paraphrased) • “everyone is able to live longer and healthier lives” through having “a healthcare system where we (NHS) have integrated health and social care, a focus on prevention…..(and) care provided to the highest standards of quality and safety”.

6. Healthcare Project update • Given the chaotic lifestyle of many coming into custody, the end point of this project should not only allow for better health services for prisoners, it will assist the NHS by affording opportunities for better and consistent treatment (cradle to grave healthcare) to often hard to reach groups and will allow better through care/referral to other services such as Alcohol & Drug Programmes, Mental Health Services and through the tackling of other chronic diseases. This in turn should assist the NHS in terms of many of the major national drivers of NHS Targets including Health Improvement.

7. Healthcare Project update • When dealing with the police, the NHS might feel they are met with this

8. Healthcare Project update • When dealing with the NHS, the police might feel they are met with this

9. Healthcare Project update • Where are we? • Different HB’s are at different stages of transfer • Work ongoing in terms of national MoU • Work ongoing in terms of national medical guidance • Work ongoing to ensure appropriate delivery through different HB’s – similar standard, not similar delivery – some will be nurse led, others FME led • COPFS involved in the process to assist with forensic standards.

10. Overview of Police Scotland

11. Police Scotland • The change • Formerly 8 Forces • Strathclyde, L&B, D&G, Fife, Tayside, Central Scotland, Grampian and Northern • Now 1 National Service • Police Service of Scotland, referred to as Police Scotland • Can’t show you a logo as the Lord Lion is still upset with us.

12. Police Scotland • Structure of senior command team • 1 CC • 4 Deputy CC’s • 6 ACC’s with geographic and thematic responsibilities • Senior Civilian Staff members – HR etc • 3 Command Areas – North, East and West • 14 Geographic Divisions • Several specialist divisions including Custody Division.

13. Police Scotland

14. Police Scotland • You will most likely come into contact with the custody officer, someone who generally holds the rank of Sergeant, but the ranks are: • Constable • Sergeant • Inspector • Chief Inspector • Superintendent • Chief Superintendent • ACC • DCC • CC • Having “detective” before it simply indicates a specialism – not a promotion!.

15. Overview of Custody Division

16. Custody Division • National thematic division cf “the old ways”…………. • Overall responsibility of an ACC (ACC Penman) • National responsibility of a Chief Superintendent (CS Ciorstin Shearer) • Operational Superintendent • 3 Chief Inspectors North, East and West Command Areas • Policy Unit.

17. Custody Division • Some “Quite Interesting” facts • Approximately 200,000 prisoners pa • Approximately 35% (70,000) require Healthcare services • There are Primary, Secondary and Contingency Centres • Busiest Office is St Leonards with >17,000 prisoners • Quietest Office is Tobermory with 2 • Greater Glasgow area – 42,000 prisoners over 7 sites.

18. Custody Division

19. Custody Division

20. Custody Division

21. Custody Division • Regardless of whether it ends up as a general healthcare or forensic request, all prisoners/detainees will have been subject to the following by the custody officer on their arrival at a police office • RISK ASSESSMENT QUESTION SET • The Risk Assessment Question Set is a set format of questions that Custody Staff should ask all custodies:.