JOINT EQUALITY OUTCOMES FOR POLICING

Members considered the report which presented the new SPA and Police Scotland Joint Equality Outcomes for Policing 2025-2029 and the Joint Mainstreaming and Equality Outcomes Progress Report 2025, due to be published by 30 April 2025. Amanda Coulthard (ACoulthard) highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper. DCCSpeirs added that outcomes are derived from developing previous ones and are aligned with the Policing Together and People strategies. Four outcomes are linked to work in local communities, and some are linked to internal work. DCCSpeirs advised the Policing Together Oversight Group will receive bi-annual updates including dashboards which will help quantify progress.

In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members recognised the progress being made, the joint endeavour and the work done in terms of neurodiversity.
• Members sought further information on the relationship between workforce outcomes and service delivery outcomes. ACoulthard responded that during discussions it was felt that if progress can be driven in terms of workforce, then this can change service delivery outcomes. Members heard there was focus on developing both activities and milestones that describe the dependencies between them. DCCSpeirs added that the alignment is captured within the vision and performance measurements will include a dashboard that focuses on all four vision elements.
• Members sought comment on the approach taken to prioritisation. ACoulthard responded that the evidence review was the first stage which looked at outcome differences in the past four years. Stakeholder feedback was also helpful and whilst work across all characteristics was required, priority was given on where there is an opportunity to make the biggest difference.
• Members sought detail on how progress will be measured. DCCSpeirs responded that the refreshed Policing Strategy and the introduction of the Advisory Council will help drive progress, especially with an independent element. Confidence and satisfaction levels from both staff and the public will help inform as well developing a culture dashboard. ACoulthard highlighted the visual within Appendix A which detailed the strategies and plans that supported the outcomes.
• Members were assured there was specific disability training for new recruits with various areas included such as trauma informed and diversity.
• Members heard that improving diversity is a key element of inclusivity planning work within Forensic Services. A key strand of this is apprenticeships and Forensic Services are in final discussions with Trade Union colleagues.
• Members were told recent recruitment within SPA has seen large numbers of applications which indicated a lot of interest in working within the policing family.

Members approved the Joint Equality Outcomes as noted within appendix A and B of the report.