Overview

This month, we are outlining plans to evolve policing in Scotland to deliver a second phase of reform so that we can meet existing and emerging challenges within the funding available.

I've set a vision for what I want Police Scotland to deliver - safer communities, less crime, supported victims, and a thriving workforce.

We're also presenting our first three-year business plan covering the period 2024-25 until 2026-27 which details the steps we are taking to deliver for our communities and our workforce, relentlessly prioritising frontline services.

Key milestones already progressed include Police Scotland’s role in the implementation of the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability, the contract award for a national roll out of Body Worn Video, and the establishment of a Mental Health Taskforce, all of which will support necessary system-wide efficiencies in the criminal justice system and in the care for people in mental health crisis.

As part of this, we'll review and redesign local policing to strengthen the community policing model and provide every local community with an identifiable officer.

We'll also take a strategic approach to which new police buildings we should invest in, which others should be improved or sold, and how they should be used to deliver co-location with partners, better working environments for officers and staff, financial savings and provide the policing service the public needs.

We are in the process of drafting a budget proposal for 2025-26 which will describe the investment needed to ensure policing is financially sustainable.

Police Scotland, with the support of the Scottish Police Authority, has a track record of delivering reform to maintain and improve services while reducing the annual cost base by £200m compared to legacy arrangements.

This second phase of police reform is being co-ordinated by Operation Evolve, led by Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors and we've been engaging and communicating with officers and staff, statutory and non-statutory staff associations, trade unions and partners ahead of presenting our vision and business plan to the Scottish Police Authority for endorsement.

As we prepare and implement plans for the short, medium and longer term, my report also highlights some of the fantastic policing our officers and staff are delivering for our communities right across Scotland every day.

This includes investigations resulting in convictions and sentencing for terrorism offences, serious and organised crime, human trafficking and sexual offending, as well as a number of significant drug recoveries. My report also outlines arrests in respect of investigations into the disappearance of Khasha Smith and in connection with the death of Brodie MacGregor.

We're also supporting campaigns aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities on our roads and to prevent online, email and phone based fraud as part of prevention work that’s vital to get on top of demand.

I want to thank our officers and staff for everything they do for the public we serve. I know the demand placed on our workforce and earlier this month, I provided evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Criminal Justice Committee, focused on how we can better support the wellbeing of our people.

As part of the evidence session, we outlined the combined health and wellbeing action plan which has been presented to the Scottish Police Authority and which outlines health and wellbeing actions, objectives and goals linked to the strategic objectives of our People Strategy for 2024-27.

I'm committed, through ongoing face-to-face engagement and through the survey which closed at the end of August, to continually listening to our workforce and acting on what they tell us to improve their experiences.

At the same time, we must work with partners to reset the parameters of policing's response to mental health incidents and to remove inefficiencies in the criminal justice system which creates significant demand and intrudes on officers' rest days and personal lives.

My report outlines work with health colleagues and the Scottish Government to provide officers with a Mental Health Index which can help them ensure members of the public who are in mental health crisis get the care and support they need and deserve from the agency best able to provide it.

Last week, along with government, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Police Scotland outlined the successful pilot of a new approach to summary case management which provides quicker justice for victims and witnesses, a reduction in police officers attending court, and a substantial decrease in case backlogs.

Progress on these two key areas is welcome and absolutely necessary as we progress the next phase of policing reform and it is vital that, working with partners, further improvement is prioritised and accelerated.

Earlier this month, our latest intake of 129 probationary constables made their oath of office during events across the country, as part of our plan to recruit over 1300 officers in 2024-25.

Lastly, following the agreement that the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, initial planning is being taken forward to ensure a safe and secure event.