The Scottish Government has yet to achieve its objective of ensuring that people convicted of criminal offences increasingly receive community-based sentences instead of going to prison.

The Community Justice (Scotland) Act was introduced in 2016 and established a new national body, Community Justice Scotland, and 30 Community Justice Partnerships (CJPs). A briefing published by Audit Scotland says that since the new legislation was enacted: 

Over the past five years Aberdeen City Council has significantly improved its performance while making challenging savings targets and acting to reshape the city's economy. However, improvements need to accelerate in housing and education.

The rise in PPE prices at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic increased costs for the body that provides support services to the NHS by over £37 million.

The Code of Audit Practice shapes and defines the independent audit of public bodies in Scotland. It supports democratic scrutiny of how public money is spent and what impact spending this money has had on public services, communities and improving individual lives.

The Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission have published a new Code of Audit Practice.

The updated Code:

Scotland’s councils reacted quickly, working alongside communities and partners, to address the unprecedented challenges created by Covid-19. Many challenges remain significant, made more urgent by the multiple impacts of Covid-19 on communities and services.

Recent cyber attacks at SEPA and the University of the Highlands and Islands have highlighted the threat that cybercrime poses to the public sector in Scotland.

Read more on Dr. Bernadette Milligan's blog post

Audit Scotland is celebrating after being named one of the 40 Best Companies to work for in Scotland, as well as the UK’s fourth best accountancy workplace.

Audit Scotland reached 36th place across Scotland in the Best Companies list, which recognises the best in workplace engagement.

The 2021 winners were announced by TV presenter Dan Walker in a virtual ceremony on Friday 21 May.