Podcast script for Police National Overview BV report 
We’re here to talk about an overview report on Scotland’s police forces and police authorities.  It draws together lessons from previous reports on the eight existing forces – ahead of the new single Scottish force which takes over from April next year.
With me is Andrew Laing, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland and John Baillie, chair of the Accounts Commission for Scotland
Andrew, can you tell me how police forces are doing?
Yes. This report is the culmination of a sustained piece of work which we began in 2009 and which involved audit and inspection of each of the eight Scottish forces and their governing boards and authorities.
In terms of policing, overall we found them in good shape. Crime is now at its lowest level for some 35+ years, detection rates are at their highest level, public confidence is in a good position and continues to improve and forces are delivering well within budget. So policing seems to be in a good state within Scotland.
And how will all of this feature in the new force?
It’s clear that the police service in Scotland is undergoing the most significant organisational change in its history and that’s a huge challenge in anybody’s book
Community policing is undoubtedly the cornerstone of Scottish policing and I am confident that the efforts and investment that have been made in terms of that local focus will be maintained in the years ahead. 
Local and national policing plans must be integrated to meet the democratically set priorities for policing and for the future …….arrangements for robust and effective governance must be developed to ensure that the service is held to account for delivery of policing and in a way that is meaningful to the public and communities of Scotland. 
Turning to you, John. How are police authorities doing at present?
Well, police authorities are made up of local councillors and wee found that they actively engage with their communities but they haven’t sufficient training and support to carry out their scrutiny roles. And that scrutiny role is very important
The report says that the effectiveness of leadership and scrutiny by councillors was poor and in many cases they took a passive role approving budgets rather than providing robust governance and in challenge and scrutiny.
So what does this mean for the future?
Well, there is a lot of work to be done in the months ahead and councillors will continue to have a key role in helping to shape police priorities at a local level.
It is clear that important lessons can be learned from what we have at present.
Now there is one absolutely critical point to make and that is that respective roles of the new national Scottish Police Authority, the new national Police Service of Scotland as well as  local authorities and their partners are clearly understood and that policing services are managed in accordance with well-established principles of  good governance and accountability.
John, Andrew, thank you very much.