OUR PEOPLE

CHIEF CONSTABLE COMMITMENTS

During my first few weeks it has been my priority to meet as many of our staff and officers. I have appreciated the frank and very valuable conversations had across the country. As previously highlighted, people are our greatest asset and as the Chief Constable, my commitments to all officers and staff are these:

• I will advocate to get the very best annual financial settlement and make a strong case for greater capital investment, particularly in digital capabilities.
• I will focus our change activity on projects that will have the greatest benefit to our communities and our people, including the roll out of body worn video as soon as possible.
• I will simplify our strategic planning arrangements and governance processes, eliminating bureaucracy and empowering our people to do the right thing.
• I will increase opportunities for staff to communicate with me and the Executive Team and share their views with us. Their ideas and creativity should and will influence how policing is delivered.
• I will improve the timeliness and quality of our Occupational Health services as part of my commitment to the wellbeing and safety of our people.
• I will preserve and strengthen our Community Policing model.
• I will review our approach to Reward and Recognition to ensure we recognise our unsung heroes and our achievements.

POLICE STAFF PAY AWARD

A pay award for 2023-24 has been agreed for all police staff members in Scotland. The award is consistent with the pay deal agreed for police officers in September 2023 and includes increases to and the introduction of new allowances.

The agreement recognises the valuable contribution our police staff make in supporting and keeping people and communities across Scotland safe. This also ensures a cumulative 12.35% increase in staff pay since 1 April 2022, which mirrors wage growth for police officers, the fire service and teachers.

Recognising and rewarding the hard work of police staff is vital and I thank everyone who has contributed to reaching this agreement.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Throughout October 2023, Police Scotland, came together with colleagues at Supporting Ethnic Minority Police employees for Equality in Race (SEMPER) Scotland to celebrate and recognise Black History Month. Events were held to highlight and better understand the accomplishments and experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic People. On 3 October 2023, a launch event was held at the Police Scotland Headquarters, Tulliallan, with a keynote address being delivered by Reverend Mina Smallman, campaigner for reforming policing in the UK.

On 31 October 2023, I addressed representatives of the Scottish Police Authority, the Scottish Government, members of the Police Scotland Executive, Staff Associations and Local Policing Divisions and provided an overview on progress and next steps beyond Black History Month.

RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTIONS

We continue to work on recruitment and have recently held both virtual and in-person recruitment events to provide potential candidates with more information about a career in policing.

It has been my pleasure to thank and congratulate police staff and police officers receiving their Long Service and Good Conducts awards at two ceremonies since taking up post. Friends and families attended celebration events at Police Scotland Headquarters in October and November, and I was grateful for the opportunity to personally thank and congratulate the 66 recipients for the significant contribution they continue to make to public service.

On 23 November 2023, I was delighted to promote a total of 76 officers and 13 members of police staff at a ceremony at Police Scotland Headquarters, Tulliallan. I passed on my congratulations to each of them, and wish them well as they step up into their new leadership roles.