Prevention, problem solving and proactivity

I have been clear that a significant operational focus must be on prevention, problem solving and proactivity so that we successfully tackle new and emerging threats and get on top of demand.
Scottish Crime Campus - 10 year anniversary

On Wednesday, 14 August, along with Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn, I joined Scottish Police Authority Chair Martyn Evans, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice Angela Constance, partner agencies and a range of political representatives during an event to mark 10 years since the Scottish Crime Campus, Gartcosh, was opened.
This significant milestone presented an opportunity to reflect on some high-profile successes joint working at the campus has achieved to tackle serious organised crime including murder; take down an encrypted criminal communication network and seize hundreds of millions of pounds worth of illegal drugs.
A key priority for our single national police service was to enhance and expand how we worked with other agencies to keep the communities of Scotland safe – which requires collaboration at international, UK and regional levels as well as a range of skills and powers which policing alone cannot deliver.
The Scottish Crime Campus is a world class hub for the joined-up working needed to smash serious organised crime and protect the public and the important outcomes outlined are evidence of its ongoing success.
Road safety
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by a high number of fatal and serious road traffic collisions across the country in recent weeks. Police Scotland is part of a crucial partnership approach to road safety and we will continue to focus on this vital priority.
Officers have been responding to concerns from road users on the A9 in Tayside and Highland areas. From Monday, 15 July, to Thursday, 25 July, officers patrolled in marked and unmarked vehicles between Perth and Inverness and worked alongside the Safety Camera Unit. 265 vehicles were stopped and 291 offences were detected.
Alongside road safety partners, we are holding Rider Refinement courses to help motorcyclists as part of a holistic approach, which also includes educating other drivers to reduce the number of collisions.
Rider Refinement East and West is a one-day course, with eight sessions between August 2024 and October 2024 in Glenrothes and Glasgow. These new courses build on a programme in the North of Scotland which is hosting 20 sessions Perth, Inverurie and Fortrose. Includes one for Shetland and one for Elgin.
Led by police motorcyclists and accompanied by an observer from the Institute of Advance Motorists, the course will look at key risk factors and provide riders with the knowledge and skills to be safer.
Policing alone can't improve road safety, and we will continue to work very closely with a range of partners to improve road safety for all users. We all have a responsibility to use our roads safely and to help save lives.
OCSAE campaign
Our latest Get Help or Get Caught campaign tackling online child sexual abuse and exploitation ended on 11 August after running for six weeks. As with previous campaigns our focus is on prevention, targeting perpetrators and signposting them to support to prevent offending.
We partnered with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland's Stop It Now service, in recognition of the vital work they do to divert potential offenders, and to support Police Scotland in our commitment to protect children and keep our communities safe.
The campaign advert featured on social media channels, digital advertising, print and broadcast media and has been supported by a number of partners. Early evaluation indicates a more than 1,500 per cent increase in visits to the Stop It Now! Scotland website since the start of the campaign. Over 700 users visited the 'Get Help and Self Support' section, an increase of over 80 per cent during the campaign period.
Police Scotland's role is to target offenders and potential offenders. Specialist and frontline officers work together at national and local levels to identify and prevent offending, to stop criminality and to prevent a child becoming a victim of abuse.
Police Cyber Alarms
Police Scotland is encouraging businesses to sign up to a free digital tool which monitors the threats from cybercriminals. The Police Cyber Alarm can help any public and private sector business with a computer network, including SMEs, organisations, charities, education establishments and local government.
Members of the scheme benefit from regular reports showing suspicious and potentially malicious attack activity on their firewall and internet gateway. The report also details how the business is being attacked and from where, in order that they can improve their cyber resilience.
The Police Cyber Alarm helps Police Scotland to identify current threats and take enforcement action against cybercriminals.
The scheme is funded by the Home Office and since its launch has identified over a billion potential suspicious events resulting in reports and advice being given to members, enabling them to take action to prevent a successful attack.