Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority with an overview of business progressed through the Committees and Oversight Group meetings which have met since the last Authority Meeting.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Meeting of the Scottish Police Authority - 20 February 2025
Date : 20 February 2025
Location : The Grand Hall, Merchants House, 7 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 1BA - Anyone requiring lift access should enter via the George Square entrance.
Policing Together Oversight Group
MAIN ITEMS OF BUSINESS
• Independent Reference Group Arrangements
• Policing Together Progress Report
• Alignment of Review & Inspection Recommendations
• Policing Together Oversight Group Annual Report (Verbal Update)
KEY ISSUES RAISED
Members of the Oversight Group considered a comprehensive report which detailed the various Independent Reference Groups (IRG) Police Scotland have in operation. The Oversight Group were encouraged by the breadth of IRGs used for consultation. Members requested a paper is brought to the 12 March 2025 PTOG which articulates the new IRG structure in place.
Members considered an update on the progress of work within two pillars of the Policing Together Strategy Vision: Learning & Communities. Members were updated on the activities taking place in the learning space. The impact of the training was queried and Members advised it would be helpful to see how this is being measured, in order to understand when they can be confident that Police Scotland is an anti-racist and anti-discriminatory organisation. Police Scotland stated there are a range of methods in place to measure the effectiveness of training and they committed to sharing the draft Anti-Racism continuation matrix with Members. With regard to the Communities pillar, Oversight Group Members received a comprehensive overview of the ongoing work in this area. Members were encouraged by the engagement Police Scotland is having with communities and their focus on the user satisfaction survey results.
The Oversight Group welcomed a report which gave an overview of the work carried out to align recommendations and actions from recent inspections, audits and reviews in respect of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Human Rights. Members sought and received assurance that the recommendation to improve the EqHRIA process was in hand; Police Scotland advised that a dedicated team has been recruited to focus on this.
Police Scotland sought clarity on the ask of the Policing Together Oversight Group Annual Report. The Oversight Group Chair advised that SPA Officials will contact the Policing Together team to discuss the content of the report.
CONCLUSIONS/ACTIONS REACHED
• The Oversight Group will receive a formal description of the new Independent Reference Group structure in place.
• Members were updated on the activity taking place within the Policing Together Learning & Community pillars.
• Police Scotland will share the draft Anti-Racism continuation matrix with Members.
• Members were assured that the recommendations from recent inspections were being actioned and prioritised appropriately.
• SPA Officials to contact the Policing Together team to discuss the content of the Policing Together Oversight Group Annual Report.