Implications

Proportionate Response to Crime aims to ensure callers are informed about the progress of their report quicker, rather than waiting days for officers to contact them to inform them of the same outcome. In rolling out the PRTC process, Police Scotland aims to;

Provide front-line officers more time to focus on local policing priorities.
Keep people safe from harm.
Protect the vulnerable.
Bring criminals to justice.
Solve problems and reduce offending.
Make best use of the resources available to Police Scotland in line with our budget.

There are no specific financial costs associated with the process tested.

The Proportionate Response to crime process only impacts upon colleagues within our Crime and Incident Management Units and Resolution Teams. Engagement has been ongoing with affected officers and staff before, during and after the pilot to ensure the process has no unintended consequences for officers and staff.

There is a reputational risk to Police Scotland in terms of how the new process is implemented and managed. Public trust and confidence in policing is of critical importance to our legitimacy. A detailed communications plan has been developed, and engagement taken place with a wide range of key stakeholders. Further engagement with local elected representatives and other stakeholders is ongoing to ensure the service is clear on the nature of the process, what it means to members of the public contacting Police Scotland, and to help inform and shape the phased roll out by listening to the views of the public and our people.

Police Scotland is acutely aware of the reporting on the North East pilot and decision to roll out the process nationally. We are aware of the impact such reporting may have had on both local communities and people right across the country. To ensure the thoughts and views of those engaging in the wider North Command area roll out, both internally and externally, the project team are working closely with our Strategy, Insights and Engagement Team to analyse data from the User Experience and Your Police surveys to provide further insights.

Through our external communication plan, we want to remain open and transparent with people contacting the police. If there are no lines of enquiry to pursue, we do not want to set an expectation that there are things that the police can do when no lines of enquiry exist.

There are no equality implications in this report. Each incident being reported to Police Scotland is subjected to a THRIVE assessment and where appropriate for Direct Crime Recording, incidents will undergo a further bespoke investigatory assessment relevant to the crime being reported. This approach will allow Police Scotland to continue to focus on the individual in deciding on the most appropriate and proportionate response.