Policing together and working with communities

Police anti-corruption and abuse reporting service
Earlier this month, Police Scotland joined other UK police services to establish a new service to give the public an anonymous and confidential route to report concerns about criminal behaviour by individuals in policing.
The police anti-corruption and abuse reporting service is run by the independent charity Crimestoppers and covers information relating to officers, staff and volunteers who:
• Provide information or influence in return for money or favours.
• Use their policing position for personal advantage - whether financial or otherwise.
• Cross professional boundaries or abuse their position for sexual purposes.
• Abuse or control their partner, or those they have a relationship with.
• Engage in racist, homophobic, misogynistic or disablist conduct, on or off duty, in person or online.
Reports can be submitted online or by telephone and reporters can choose to remain anonymous, or leave their details if they are willing for investigators to contact them.
Police Scotland fully supports the establishment of the service which complements the range of reporting mechanisms already available to the public and to officers and staff.
Our safeguarding of values and standards through rigorous recruitment; enhanced vetting; more visible conduct outcomes; and a focus on prevention has never been stronger. We continue to build on the cultural progress which has been made in recent years through investment in leadership and a focus on our values and standards driven through our Policing Together Programme.
Policing Together includes a clear and consistent message that there is no place in Police Scotland for those who reject our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training
A new learning package to help colleagues uphold those values and increase understanding of institutional and anti-discrimination was launched earlier this month. 'Upholding our Values' was designed in collaboration with officers, staff and staff associations and provides colleagues with guidance on how they can apply our values in their everyday roles.

Celebrating inclusion in Police Scotland
Recognising the various cultural and religious events that are important to our people and the communities we serve is an important part of our commitment to becoming an anti-discriminatory service.
This month we celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting a number of online panel and information events for colleagues. I also took part in a podcast with the Scottish Women’s Development Forum where I spoke about how we advance inclusion in Police Scotland.
I met with colleagues during a closing event for LGBT History Month on 29 February and. I also spent time with our Christian Police Association, to discuss institutional discrimination and policing culture among other matters.
We are marking Ramadan and have shared content and guidance across the Service that raises awareness and includes practical policing considerations and information on fasting for all colleagues and managers.
Understanding that our colleagues who are neurodivergent have unique and valuable skills that they bring to policing can be a real source of strength for Police Scotland. We are shining a light on that this week (18 to 24 March) as we mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week across the organisation.
Under the leadership of Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, we have formed a Neurodiversity Strategic Working Group that will bring together key business areas and staff associations to help us better support those with neurodiversity in policing and the communities we serve.

Global Policing Exchange Leadership Programme
In February, I welcomed and spoke with a group of delegates from the Global Policing Exchange (GPX) leadership programme at Police Scotland Headquarters.
Delegates attended Tulliallan for the latest part of an ongoing two-year scheme, which has seen law enforcement agencies across the world come together to share experience, insight and best practice across a number of policing themes.