Report Summary
This report provides members of the People Committee with an overview of Strategic Workforce Plan (SWP) closure report & HMICS Recommendations Update.
To access the full document please open the PDF document above.
To view as accessible content please use the sections below. (Note that tables and some appendixes are not available as accessible content).
Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
People Committee - 14 November 2023
Date : 14 November 2023
Location : Online
Background
The first iteration of the SWP was presented to the SPA Board on 22 January 2021.
The plan identified a shortfall in resources amounting to £23 million based on current and future demands placed on the organisation which at that time could not be met via efficiencies or restructure.
The plan also identified 8 pieces of work that were required be undertaken to improve the efficiency of the Force and potentially release capacity.
Since publication, a number of factors have impacted on the delivery of the plan most notably the lack of additional funds to support its delivery, operational pressures from COVID and COP26, and more recently the unprecedented low numbers of police officers as a result of funding challenges. Officer numbers at the end of Q2 will be at 16,616 FTE some 618 FTE below the previous years budgeted position. Further to that with no further officer intake planned for the remainder 2023/24 the likely officer number will be around 16200 FTE by the end of March 2024.
Additionally, the Resource Spending Review (RSR) published by Scottish Government on 31 May 2022 sets out the guidance over the funding allocation for the remainder of the current parliament (to FY 26/27) and advises that Police Scotland / Scottish Police Authority should plan for a flat cash settlement over this period.
