Report Summary
The Board of the Scottish Police Authority is a group of publicly appointed members with a collective responsibility as set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 to deliver five core functions.
Each year, the Board agree areas of focus (objectives) to guide and prioritise their support and scrutiny of policing. For 2023/24, Board members remain concerned that the level of demand on the police and forensic service is not sustainable within the financial envelope available; we will seek greater evidence of fluctuations in demand across both. The Board will focus its efforts to:
- Maintain a balanced budget
- Support the development of a sustainable police and forensic service
In this publication you will find more information about the Board's priorities and approach.
Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Meeting of the Scottish Police Authority - 26 May 2022
Date : 26 May 2022
Location : online
Priorities 2023-24
Our key areas of focus for 2023-24
Members identify areas of focus for the year ahead to guide and prioritise their support and scrutiny of policing. Board members remain concerned that the level of demand on the police and forensic service is not sustainable within the financial envelope available; we will seek greater evidence of fluctuations in demand across both. The Board will focus its efforts to:
- Maintain a balanced budget
- Support the development of a sustainable police and forensic service
To meet both objectives, the Board will concentrate its interest in 3 specific areas:
CAPACITY – for example;
- Address mental health and missing persons demand on response policing (to free police officers time to meet other demands)
- Invest in leadership and management training/support (to increase retention rates and job satisfaction)
- Invest in police and staff wellbeing and welfare support (to reduce sickness absence and ill-health retirement)
- Agree Strategic Workforce Plan, People Plan and monitor progress.
CAPABILITY – for example;
- Invest in technology to increase officer and staff efficiency
- Increase cross-sectoral partnership working to ensure Police Scotland makes best use of UK and wider police capability
- Focus on transformation/change programmes with emphasis on delivery of existing Police Scotland and Forensic Services strategies.
CULTURE – for example;
- Sustained oversight of Policing Together Programme of work to accelerate pace and measure progress to address cultural challenges
- Strengthen legal and administrative process and visibility of misconduct hearings and their outcomes and improve learning from them
- Transform system wide HR support within Police Scotland.
