Background

Police Scotland is taking a number of steps to enhance our understanding of the impact of sexism and misogyny, with an absolute focus on improving living experience of all colleagues across the service.

In late 2021, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion & Human Rights Strategic Oversight Board (now known as the Policing Together Strategic Oversight Board) supported the establishment of a Sex Equality and Tackling Misogyny Working Group. Led by Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, the working group is taking an evidence-led approach to tackling sexism and misogyny. The working group includes statutory bodies, unions and diversity staff association representatives as well as senior leaders from across the service.

This work forms part of our Policing Together initiative to drive improvements in policing and in Scotland, ensuring that we reflect, represent and serve all our communities. Police Scotland has also welcomed the opportunity to discuss this work with the Policing Together Independent Review Group for scrutiny and advice.

The Chief Constable’s public statement on these areas have given a clear direction for the service:

Misogyny, sexism and discrimination of any kind are deplorable. They should have no place in society and no place in policing. It is vital that, individually and as an organisation, we challenge our own and each other’s behaviours in relation to misogynistic attitudes and actions. We have a duty and an opportunity to lead a change which improves the experiences of all women, including our own officers and staff. This starts with enabling and supporting those who speak up, who have a right to be heard without fear of detriment or victimisation.

Alongside consideration of sex equality and tackling misogyny internally, Police Scotland has been working closely with a range of key stakeholders and survivors on our Violence against Women and Girls Strategy.

Both of these areas of work are fully aligned with the wider Policing Together strategy and programme which have been a priority for the service. This is key to maintaining legitimacy, trust and confidence in policing in Scotland, particularly as wider policing issues are being highlighted across the UK and internationally.

Police Scotland has been focused on all of these areas for a considerable time. Improvements to this point have been recognised and the service has committed to do more as our engagement, insights and strategic direction continue to develop and mature.

The Sex Equality and Tackling Misogyny Working Group leads strategic consideration of this important area, as part of the wider Police Scotland Policing Together strategy, implementation plan and contributes to the significant work led by the Policing Together Strategic Oversight Board. The group was set up to focus on Police Scotland’s commitment to provide a workplace that supports women, enhancing their lived experience of working within the organisation, achieved through creating an environment free of sexism and misogyny that stretches beyond inclusion to equity and ensuring that our workforce feel they belong in all areas of policing.

Following a range of initial engagement and evidence gathering the group set out plans to act across the following key areas:
Data and insights
Culture, values and behaviours
Leadership
Engagement and communications
Training, education and awareness
Mechanisms for supporting and reporting
Policy and procedures

A priority area of early focus for the group has been leading engagement and communications with colleagues throughout the service to acknowledge existing concerns and seek to understand lived experience to inform a range of actions to enable and support change where appropriate.