Item 6

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INDEPENDENT REVIEW GROUP – INTERIM REPORT

Members considered the report which detailed the progress to date of the Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Independent Review Group. Chris Creegan (CCreegan) passed on apologies on behalf of the Chair of the Review Group and highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper.

In discussion the following matters were raised:

• Members asked whether CCreegan agreed with CCLivingstone’s assessment that Police Scotland is institutionally discriminatory. CCreegan noted the group would need to discuss CCLivingstone’s remarks but he did welcome the statement. CCreegan added that CCLivingstone’s statement changes the context in how the group conduct their review, as it is now not a judgement they have to make.
• Responding to a question on how the group will assess pace and progress, CCreegan acknowledged a critical challenge would be around operationalising strategy.
• Members sought further information on timelines for future reports and whether CCLivingstone’s statement would expedite them. CCreegan assured Members no further delay was anticipated and the final report would be available at the beginning of 2024.
• Members sought the group’s view on assurance standards and learning from other police forces or wider industries, and heard the group are in the process of developing reporting mechanisms and have a number of themes where progress is measured. CCreegan confirmed the group will explore how explicit they will be with practice elsewhere.
• CCreegan acknowledged concern of the lack of comment on disability and intersectionality within the report, but assured Members that disabilities and protected characteristics will be addressed in the next interim report. Members heard the group have spoken with various diversity association representatives and the group were aware about the impact of disability within the service.
• The Chair highlighted how the Authority seeks assurance on three main issues; commitment, strategy and implementation. Noting that the report provides clear assurance on commitment and strategy, the Chair noted that the Authority would be keen for the focus of the next interim report to be on implementation.
• The Chair thanked DCCTaylor for her work within the area and welcomed the agreement with the Authority to put additional senior officer resource into the Policing Together Portfolio.

The Authority RESOLVED to:

• NOTE the report.