Report Summary
Approved Minute from the Meeting of the Scottish Police Authority held on 23 May 2024. The Minute was approved at the meeting on 27 June 2024.
Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Meeting of the Scottish Police Authority - 27 June 2024
Date : 27 June 2024
Location : Caledonian Suite, COSLA, Verity House, 19 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh, EH12 5BH
SPA Chair's Report
The Chair referred to his written report and highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper. Whilst not in the written report, the Chair confirmed that Michelle Miller is stepping down from the Board at the end of May and thanked her for her contribution. Noting that Michelle Miller was the Board’s Whistleblowing champion, the Chair nominated Caroline Stuart to take on this role which Members supported.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• The Chair expanded on the work with the Local Authority Scrutiny Panels, noting improving relationships with Local Government was one of his priorities when he took post and that he felt there were now good relationships with Local Scrutiny Bodies. The Chair explained he raised two areas of concern at the recent COSLA Leaders Forum: the extent to which serious and organised crime impacts communities; and the state of the criminal justice system and its requirement to modernise. The main areas of interest at the Forum were financial challenges and visibility of police within local communities. Chief Constable Jo Farrell (CCFarrell) added that she had spoken of collaborative opportunities around estate, and Police Scotland’s programme of reform. CCFarrell also reinforced her commitment to focus on visibility within local communities. The Chair referred to a recent public briefing describing the local, regional, and national scrutiny arrangements for policing in Scotland on the Authority’s website, and requested it be promoted through social media channels.
• The Chair advised that the Community Confidence Action Research findings had not yet been disseminated, therefore a timeline for a toolkit for further roll was unknown at this stage. Tom Halpin, Policing Together Oversight Group Chair, confirmed that it would be discussed at future meetings of the group.
The Board RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.
• AGREE the following action:
Public Briefing describing the local, regional, and national scrutiny arrangements for policing in Scotland on Authority’s website to be promoted through social media channels.
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