Report Summary
This report summarises the key findings of the evaluation of new policing initiatives in Wick as part of the final phase of the SPA and Police Scotland's Community Confidence Action Research Project in Wick.
To access the full document please open the PDF document above.
To view as accessible content please use the sections below. (Note that some tables and appendixes are not available as accessible content).
Conclusions and Key Findings
Over half of respondents were unaware of any of the five main initiatives undertaken by local policing. The main are for improvement relates to promoting/advertising events in a way that reaches people.
Respondents reported having lower levels of trust and confidence in the police in December 2023 and January 2024 compared with 7-8 months earlier.
Awareness of initiatives appears to have been very important in Wick. Although fewer than half of respondents were aware of the initiatives put in place, those who were aware reported higher levels of trust and confidence.
People in the Wick / Caithness area continue to say there is a strong sense of community, although the proportion saying this has fallen slightly.
Comments relating to Wick, and policing in Wick, generally relate to the following themes: policing is good but it is insufficient, with direct contact too limited; drug dealing and antisocial behaviour are leading concerns and are contributing to a reduced quality of life for people living in Wick; the centralisation of policing services is cited as leading to a poorer level of service.
Feedback relating to the aims of this Project and the way the Project has worked in Wick is positive, with a view expressed that inviting people to structured, in-depth conversations about policing with materials published in advance, assists people to prepare and offer considered views rather than off-the-cuff comments.
