Background

Under section 35 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012:

• The Chief Constable must prepare an annual police plan for each yearly period beginning on 01 April.
• An annual police plan is a plan which sets out the proposed arrangements for the policing of Scotland during the yearly period, describes how those arrangements are expected to contribute towards the achievement of the main objectives for the policing of Scotland set out in the strategic police plan (by reference, where appropriate, to outcomes identified in that plan), and includes any other information connected with policing which the Chief Constable considers appropriate.

The Annual Police Plan (APP) 2024/25 was developed by Strategy, Insight and Engagement in consultation with business areas and the executive, then was approved and published on the Police Scotland website. The APP 2024/25 sets out our key activities for the year under four themes. These are:

• Implement our Policing Together Strategy and drive cultural improvement.
• Increase front-line strength and drive service improvement.
• Support the wellbeing of our workforce.
• Re-design and begin to re-shape support functions.

Strategy, Insight and Engagement (SIE) then started work to create the delivery plan engaging with business areas to develop a framework on how Police Scotland will deliver and demonstrate progress against the Annual Police Plan 2024/25. Analysis and Performance, in conjunction with SIE, combined the initial framework with performance data and consulted with relevant strategic leads to refine key deliverables for each activity in the APP 2024/25.

This revised APP Delivery Plan 2024/25 is linked to our strategic planning processes and aligns to the five Strategic Outcomes (Public Safety and Wellbeing; Needs of Local Communities; Confidence in Policing; Working Environment; Sustainable and Adaptable Service) as detailed in the APP 2024/25.

The Chief Constable’s Priorities are at the centre of our approach to performance. Our Strategic Threat and Risk Assessment provides the evidence base for our areas of highest Threat, Harm and Risk (Force Control Strategy), Annual Policing Plan and Performance Framework. Our Values and Code of Ethics underpin our approach to performance management which is vital to maintain and strengthen public confidence and trust in the Service.