Public Perceptions of Policing in Scotland (January 2025)

This report (Appendix 1) provides the Authority with the results of public polling carried out in January 2025 as part of the routine six-monthly polling series. The report also contains key insights and compares the latest polling results with previous waves of polling. This is the final sweep of polling under the existing contract with the Diffley Partnership.

In addition to the three core questions on trust, confidence and policing performance, the January polling features questions on biometrics and policing, awareness of local police plans and local scrutiny arrangements, and awareness of the role of the Scottish Police Authority.

The polling activity ran between 29th and 31st January, with 2,583 people completing the survey via the ScotPulse platform.

The following key findings are expanded upon within the main report (see Appendix 1):

Trust, Confidence and Police Performance

Levels of confidence and trust in policing fell very slightly in January 2025 compared with August 2024, however the main demographic patterns that have been evident for some time remain in place, for example, women having more confidence and trust in policing than men.

Overall confidence in the police remains strong, with 77% of people having high or medium confidence in the police in Scotland (16% having low confidence and 7% saying that they ‘don’t know’). Confidence remains strongest regarding keeping areas safe and tackling crime.

Trust in the police also remains strong, with 72% of people having high or medium trust in the police in Scotland (21% saying ‘low’ and 7% saying ‘don’t know’).

Regarding police performance, 66% of people rate the police as doing a good job (or at least not a poor job), with 8% of people saying ‘don’t know’. Police performance is rated more positively in terms of keeping communities safe and tackling crime. Exceptionally, people are more likely to regard police performance as being poor, rather than good, as far as tackling antisocial behaviour and bringing communities closer together is concerned.

Biometrics and Policing

The polling in January 2025 asked a series of questions relating to the use of biometrics in policing and forensics contexts. The question set was developed through engagement with the Biometrics Commissioner to deliver a set of questions that would generate value for both the Commissioner and the policing system itself (the Authority and Forensic Services, and Police Scotland).

Whilst the report at Appendix 1 contains more detailed findings, the following points summarise the main findings:

The public’s understanding of the rationale for retaining fingerprints, DNA and photographs of people who have been arrested in Scotland is high, with 92% of people saying that they understand the reasons.

The public also overwhelmingly thinks that retaining fingerprints, DNA samples and photographs of people arrested by the police helps to solve crime, with 92% of people giving this view.

Additionally the public overwhelmingly thinks that collecting forensic evidence at crime scenes (fingerprints and DNA) helps the police to solve crimes, with 95% of people expressing this position.

The public also believe that there is a strong case for retaining the fingerprints, photographs or DNA of people convicted of a crime in Scotland, with 64% of people saying such material should be kept forever, and 14% saying more than 30 years but not forever. 9% of people said that the material should not be kept for more than 15 years or not retained at all. 6% of people said that they did not know.

There is also strong support among the public for the police taking the fingerprints, photographs and DNA from children and young people under 16 years of age where they have been arrested in Scotland (73% agree with this position).

Public support is also strong for the use of technology by the police to help recognise the faces of people in public places to help identify persons who may be wanted by the police (72% of people agree with this). Women are more likely than men to support this technology (77% versus 67%).

Awareness of National and Local Policing Oversight

The public were also questioned about their awareness of local police plans, local police scrutiny arrangements, and awareness of the role of the Scottish Police Authority. The main findings are set out below.

Only 2% of people say that they are aware that there is a local police plan covering their local area and have also seen a copy of it. A further 15% of people say that they are aware that there is a local police plan, but have not seen it. Awareness is greater among men than women (20% versus 14%). The majority of people (65%) say that they were not aware of local police plans but found the concept to be of interest to them.

There is a higher level awareness of how local elected members monitor police performance in local areas. 32% of people say they are aware that this happens. Once again, awareness is greater among men than women (38% versus 27%). 50% of people, however, say that they were not aware that this happens, but would be interested to know more.

Awareness of the Scottish Police Authority is comparatively high, with 54% of people saying that they have heard of the Scottish Police Authority, including 11% of people who say that they have an understanding of the Authority’s work. Once again, men are more likely to have awareness than women, however the largest variation relates to age, with 71% of people aged 65+ having awareness compared with 42% of people aged 16-24 years. Overall, 30% of people say that they have not heard of the Scottish Police Authority but would be interested to know more.