Overview

The disruption and devastating effects of Storm Eowyn continue to be felt by communities across Scotland, including the tragic death of 19-year-old Calum Carmichael in Ayrshire.

During the storm, police officers, staff, and volunteers demonstrated professionalism and bravery to ensure policing played its important part in the emergency response, along with blue light partners, the Scottish Government, local authorities, health colleagues, SEPA, the third sector, and others.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to efforts to preserve life and support those affected by the adverse weather.

This report also outlines the policing response to the horrific murder of six-year-old Hope Gordon. Hope's murder is a shocking and deeply upsetting crime and utterly devastating for the families involved. My thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone at Police Scotland, are with Hope's loved ones.

Such a tragedy also has a wider effect on the local community in West Calder, as well as across Scotland, including for the officers and staff who responded, and I'm grateful for their support and co-operation as enquiries continue.

I highlight the search for Henrietta and Eliza Huszti, which sadly concluded with the discovery of their bodies and I offer their family my condolences.

Since my last report, there have been a number of significant court outcomes following police investigations, some of which I outline in this update. These include the life sentence of 41-year-old Finlay MacDonald for murder and attempted murders on Skye and in Wester Ross in August 2022 and the conviction and sentencing of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenders.

I also highlight a County Lines intensification week which ended in December and during which officers made 81 arrests, safeguarded 66 vulnerable people and seized illegal drugs, cash and offensive weapons during a crackdown on drug dealers who exploit vulnerable young people.

My report details the results of our campaign of enforcement, education, and communication around drink and drug driving. Officers engaged with more than 25,000 drivers and detected over 1,300 offences as policing plays our part in a crucial partnership approach to reducing road fatalities and injuries.

It's a very clear message. Do not drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs. If you know someone who is going to drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, please speak to them. Officers are on our road networks day in, day out and we relentlessly target offenders.

The breadth of police work described in my report, from multi-agency emergency responses, significant investigations, counter terrorism, and action to reduce harm and safeguard the vulnerable underlines the relentless nature of policing and the significant value our officers, staff and volunteers deliver right across Scotland, every day.

Next week, we'll pause to recognise and celebrate some of the incredible work of police officers, staff, and volunteers, as well as the contribution of members of the public who stepped forward at times of crisis, during our annual Bravery and Excellence Awards.

Reading the nominations has been a great privilege and a powerful experience. I am continually blown away by the professionalism, skill and dedication of our people and I greatly look forward to congratulating and thanking nominees and winners in person.

The great value of policing must be for all communities. People from all communities must know that when the police talk about keeping people safe, we mean them. All communities must feel able to speak to the police, to report a crime, share information or consider policing as a potential career.

This month, we've been recognising and celebrating important milestones as part of our Policing Together programme, including Race Equality Week and LGBT History Month, and during Race Equality week, the Force Executive participated in an anti-racist learning session to continue and lead Police Scotland's learning in this important area.

Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton continues to deliver the Policing Together programme through face-to-face learning and enhanced community engagement to put Policing Together into practice.

I want to thank ACC Paton for her work and reaffirm my commitment to building an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory, Service which serves all our communities, inside policing and across society.

Policing Together is an important programme in delivering on our vision of safer communities, less crime, supported victims and a thriving workforce.

As we progress to 2025-26, we will enter year two of our first three-year business plan, which outlines the milestones we'll prioritise to help realise our ambitions.

The vision and business plan consciously prioritises the frontline to support officers, staff and volunteers to deliver for our communities.

Of course, a key element of that support is securing the resources required to provide effective policing and we continue to monitor developments on the funding allocation available for 2025-26.

My report outlines that in January, our latest intake of 124 probationary constables brought our officer establishment to just over 16,600. A further intake of officers is planned for March, which will continue to maintain officer numbers.

When the Scottish Budget proposals were announced in December, I welcomed the continued support for the second phase of police reform which enables policing to maintain a maximum officer establishment of 16,600 while we develop a sustainable and effective operating model and modernised workforce.

I was also clear that a key component of that position was the requirement that over £25m of additional National Insurances costs are fully funded - this continues to be the case.

Workforce pay in Police Scotland accounts for over 86 per cent of our revenue spend, meaning there are very few levers to reduce costs other than through workforce numbers.

The uncertainty also underlines the ongoing challenge of recruitment planning without multi-year funding allocations.

Lastly, I provide updates on pay awards, including agreement on a headline 4.75% police staff offer and the decision to award police officers a 4.75% uplift to pay and relevant allowances following independent arbitration.

As illustrated throughout my report, police officers deliver significant service and value for our communities day in, day out. I am hugely grateful for their skill, dedication, and goodwill and it is important officers are rewarded and recognised