Public Perceptions of Policing in Scotland (August 2024)

This report (Appendix 1) provides the Authority with the results of public polling carried out in August 2024 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.

 In addition to the three core questions on trust, confidence and policing performance, the August polling features questions on antisocial behaviour, trust and confidence in public institutions in Scotland, and the public’s awareness and views on proportionate investigative responses to crime.

The polling activity ran between 7^th and 11^th August, with 2,678 people completing the survey via the ScotPulse It should be noted that the early August period saw heightened media activity about policing in the UK as a result of rioting and major unrest taking place in many English cities.  Media commentary was frequently negative in tone.

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

Overall trust and confidence in the police has increased slightly compared with July 2023 and January 2024, with trust and confidence in local policing being the strongest. Trust and confidence levels continue to be higher among women, people living in rural areas, people living in less deprived areas, people without a limiting mental/physical health condition, and people identified as being upper or middle class based on the social grading of the head of household.  The least amount of confidence continues to be expressed regarding the tackling of antisocial behaviour.

Questions were asked about antisocial behaviour in more detail, with the questions mirroring questions asked in July 2023 for comparison purposes. As with 12 months ago, only 7% of people have not observed any antisocial behaviour taking place in their local area.  The most prevalent forms continue to be littering/flytipping and dog fouling, speeding/antisocial driving, and inconsiderate or obstructive parking.   Levels of concern about different types of antisocial behaviour remain largely unchanged, with drug dealing/use and speeding/antisocial driving being the most concerning types of issue.

For the first time questions have been asked about how the police respond to crime from an investigative perspective, principally how the police prioritise investigative resources in a proportionate way. The public strongly supports the view that serious crime should be prioritised for investigation over more minor crime.  Two-thirds of people also think that in the case of minor crime, the police should prioritise those crimes where there are clear lines of inquiry to follow.  There is limited awareness of Police Scotland’s new policy position regarding the proportionate investigate response to crime, with 57% of people having no awareness of this change.