Strategic Engagement

Women in Policing Conference 

Between Wednesday 8 and Friday 10 March, Police Scotland welcomed over 350 police officers and police staff from across the UK and abroad to the WiP Conference, coinciding with International Women’s Day.

I had the privilege to open the event and welcome delegates on behalf of Police Scotland.  The event focused on the themes of Life, Leadership and Legacy, and in addition to inputs from the senior leadership team on sexism and misogyny, and values and legacy in policing, Constable Jo Hay provided a personal account of her lived experience in the organisation.

International Women's Day 

On Wednesday 8 March Police Scotland hosted an online event, open to everyone, as part of Police Scotland’s programme to mark International Women’s Day.  A panel comprising Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, Chief Superintendents Gillian Docherty, Laura Waddell and Lynn Ratcliff, and the Scottish Women’s Development Forum Deputy Chair Jenni Stuart, shared their own experiences of policing and the work ongoing within the organisation to improve sex equality and tackling misogyny.  

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Engagement 

On Wednesday 1 March I assisted colleagues from SFRS and Scottish Government with the SFRS Chief Officer recruitment process.  I look forward to working with Ross Haggart, and continuing a close relationship between Police Scotland and SFRS. 

In addition to being a member of the interview panel, I undertook an independent advisor role for the incident command element.  Engagement and support to, and from, our Emergency Services Colleagues at all levels, helps us collectively keep the communities of Scotland safe.   

Parliament Engagement 

On Wednesday 8 March, Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds QPM provided evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee.  The evidence session was one of a series considering post-legislative scrutiny of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.

Police Scotland recognises the important role that policing holds, both within the justice system in Scotland and across wider public life, and will continue to engage with parliament in an open and transparent manner.

Childlight 

On Wednesday 15 March, along with colleagues from our Public Protection team, Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors QPM and I attended the official launch of Childlight - Global Child Safety Institute, in Edinburgh.

Childlight has been established by the Human Dignity Foundation in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, to gather and visualise the global prevalence and nature of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Working with partners from around the world, Childlight aims to improve and standardise the collection of data relating to child sexual exploitation and abuse and using the data to drive change in real time.

I gave an opening address at the launch, and participated in panel discussions around the importance of data in tackling this issue from a law enforcement perspective.

International Engagement 

On 14 March I opened the FBI National Academy Alumni event in Edinburgh. 

The event, for serving senior officers from across the UK, consisted of a number of strategic inputs covering topics such as the challenges facing policing in the UK, Strategic Leadership of an organisation, the threat from Cyber across Industry, and Law Enforcement.

In my opening remarks I highlighted the positive impact Police Scotland has, not only in our local communities, but also across UK policing and internationally.