Report Summary
The roles and responsibilities of the Scottish Police Authority (the Authority) and Police Scotland in relation to strategic planning are set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 at Sections 34 and 35.
Under the Act, the Authority is responsible for producing a Strategic Police Plan and involves the Chief Constable of Police Scotland in developing it.
The alignment of strategic direction, priorities for policing, planning and performance assessment is articulated in this Plan.
This Strategic Police Plan for Scotland requires ministerial approval prior to publication and laying before Parliament.
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Outcome 5: Policing is sustainable, adaptable and prepared for future challenges
Challenges and opportunities
Police Scotland will embrace innovation, challenging itself and partners to work collaboratively and sustainably. Transforming operational and support services will maximise the potential of policing assets and help deliver best value.
Policing will continue to evolve. Ongoing political, economic and societal changes require the police service to adapt and respond to future challenges and maximise the benefits of future opportunities.
Today’s challenges
Limited opportunities for staff to make recommendations for improvements.
Lack of systems integration, resulting in inefficiency and duplication of effort
We are limited in our ability to operate sustainably. We maintain a large and ageing estate alongside the biggest blue light fleet in Scotland
Complex governance structures inhibit dynamic decision making, effective responses and the delivery of improvements
Policing in future
We embrace new ideas, innovation, and technologies, learning from best practice
We consider environmental sustainability by default in all parts of our organisation
We will ensure that we have the right structure, governance and decision making in place to deliver best value across the service
To achieve this outcome, Police Scotland will:
Use innovative approaches to accelerate its capacity and capability for effective service delivery
Commit to making a positive impact through outstanding environmental sustainability
Support operational policing through the appropriate digital tools and delivery of best value
Use innovative approaches to accelerate its capacity and capability for effective service delivery
The current social, political and economic climate means we must adapt policing services to keep all communities in Scotland safe. Police Scotland will continue to encourage our people to challenge the status quo, recognising when they suggest better, more efficient ways of doing things. Police Scotland will encourage proactivity and problem-solving.
Police Scotland is committed to working with emergency service partners, in recognition that closer collaboration will deliver benefits across blue light organisations. Police Scotland will also work in partnership with other public, third and private sector organisations to identify opportunities and threats, collectively seeking innovative solutions. This will require a collaborative approach and one which ensures data and information are shared within the boundaries of the legislation as well as accepted privacy and ethical standards.
Police Scotland will continue to drive and support improvement throughout the organisation. This will include deploying technology in the right places to change how things are done, enabling better solutions for the future. Our people will be flexible and agile, with the capacity, skills and tools required to support innovation.
Commit to making a positive impact through outstanding environmental sustainability
Police Scotland has developed a series of complimentary strategies setting out a commitment to sustainability, and aims to reduce the impact of activity, estates and fleet on the environment. Police Scotland will make a significant contribution to the Scottish Government’s 2040 carbon neutral and 2045 zero greenhouse gas emissions targets. In addition the service will encourage partners and mandate suppliers to do likewise.
Police Scotland’s Environmental Strategy builds upon earlier achievements and focuses on how the police workforce will be supported to work sustainably, initiatives to improve biodiversity and reduce carbon impacts across the policing estate, and Police Scotland’s responsibility to help improve the wellbeing of local communities.
Police Scotland’s Fleet Strategy provides a clear context, rationale and timeline for the electrification of the entire fleet by 2030. The service will continue to act on commitments to a sustainable fleet, supporting a wider public sector electric transport network.
The Estates Strategy acknowledges the evolution of unique policing services in response to changing demands, focusing where it is practical do so on the disposal of older buildings and the relocation to modern, energy efficient buildings where police can co-locate with other emergency services, public and third sector partners.
Securing appropriate levels of investment from the Scottish Government will be critical to success and will support the delivery of sustainable change across the organisation. This will allow for reduced consumption of resources and closer working with public sector partners to achieve shared ambitions.
Support operational policing through the appropriate digital tools and delivery of best value
A number of aligned strategies and plans support this Strategic Police Plan. These detail how Police Scotland will change key areas such as ICT, estates and fleet. It is vital that consideration is given to how these integrated plans will be delivered together.
To deliver operational policing successfully, support services must be organised to be as effective, efficient and flexible as possible. Support services must be enabled with the appropriate technology and access to data and digital solutions in order to perform efficiently. Investment will therefore take place to put the correct infrastructure together to support modernisation and integration.
Police Scotland will use management information on performance and demand, together with expertise and predictive analytics to make the best strategic and tactical decisions. The operating model for policing will be kept under review and adapted accordingly when new or alternative approaches are identified or required. Police Scotland will invest in the use of data, digital, analysis and intelligence.
Police Scotland is fully committed to demonstrating best value. However, the financial position, both capital and revenue, remains under pressure. Any decisions regarding investment or efficiency will be made prudently, without compromising on operational delivery requirements.
Everyone has a role to play in improving financial sustainability, making efficient use of resources and eliminating waste to deliver best value. Procurement of and demand for goods and services will remain under scrutiny, ensuring resources are used in the most efficient way possible to meet the greatest need.
