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 objectives. These objectives explain what the Board will do to contribute to the strategic police plan in the year ahead and explains the areas of focus to guide and prioritise the Board's support and scrutiny of policing.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Meeting of the Scottish Police Authority - 22 May 2025
Date : 22 May 2025
Location : Clayton Hotel Glasgow, 298 Clyde St, Glasgow, G1 4NP
Our key areas of focus 2025-26
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 has two specific objectives for the year ahead:
- Maintain a balanced budget
- Support the development of a sustainable police and forensic service
To meet both objectives, the Board will focus its interest in three specific areas:
CAPACITY – for example;
- Monitor and oversee Police Scotland’s delivery of its Vision 2030 and 3-year plan, supporting policing to adapt to changing needs and demands and make best use of available resources.
- Monitoring efforts to manage mental health and missing persons demand on response policing.
- Oversee investment in leadership and management training/support to increase retention rates and job satisfaction.
- Oversee investment in police and staff wellbeing and welfare support to optimise workforce wellbeing (with indicators including reduced sickness absence and ill health retirement).
CAPABILITY – for example;
- Investment in technology to increase officer and staff efficiency.
- Championing increased 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 a revised model of policing and progress towards enabling 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.
- Monitoring and overseeing efforts to strengthen legal and administrative processes, the visibility of misconduct hearings and their outcomes and improve learning from them.
- Oversight of the transformation programme to strengthen and improve system wide HR support within Police Scotland.