Report detail

US Presidential visit to Scotland – July 2025

I want to record the Authority’s thanks and appreciation to all of the police officers and staff who supported the policing effort supporting President Trump’s four day visit to Scotland at the end of July 2025. This appreciation also extends to the officers and staff who continued to maintain effective policing services in communities and deliver specialist services up and down the country.

The impact of visits involving dignitaries such as President Trump cannot be overstated. This visit placed a signficant strain on finite policing resources. However, it also highlighted, once again, the professionalism and responsiveness of Police Scotland in policing high-profile visits with significant diplomatic, logistical, or security considerations.

Police Investigations and Reviews Commissioner (PIRC)

I met with Laura Paton, the Police Investigations and Reviews Commissioner on 23 July 2025. Laura took up her new post in April 2025 and this was the first opportunity we had to meet since assuming our respective roles. We discussed a range of issues including the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 and ongoing efforts to realise the recommendations of Lady Elish Angiolini’s Independent Review of complaint handling, misconduct and investigations.

The Authority and PIRC share a commitment to building public trust and confidence in policing through our respective roles. The Authority recognises that robust and effective investigative and complaints processes are a key accountability mechanism and intrinsically link to public trust and confidence in policing.

PIRC representatives regularly attend and contribute to the Authority’s Complaints and Conduct Committee and previous Commisioners have contributed to the Authority’s Board meetings. I have extended an invitation to the new Commissioner to attend a future Board meeting and I have reiterated the Authority’s appreciation for the valuable independent assurance and insight provided by PIRC in this important area.

Crown Office and Pocurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)

My engagement meetings with stakeholders continued in July where I visited the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscals Service in Edinburgh on 17 July 2025 to meet John Logue, Crown Agent.

The Crown Agent is the principal legal advisor to the Lord Advocate on prosecution matters and the Chief Executive of COPFS. We discussed a range of issues of mutual interest including victim centred approaches and opportunities for identifying efficiencies which will improve the workings of the justice system.

COSLA Police Scrutiny Conveners’ Forum

On Thursday 7 August I attended my first COSLA Police Scrutiny Convenors’ Forum in my role as Chair of the Authority. Deputy Chief Constable Connors and I, with colleagues from Police Scotland and the Authority, met representatives from scrutiny committees across Scotland for a discussion on delivery of policing in local communities. Following a viewing of and discussion on the Scottish Police Federation short film Relentless, both DCC Connors and I stressed the importance and value of our relationships with Local Government. I also updated convenors on some of the areas of work we are currently focusing on within the Authority.

Police Scotland provided an update to attendees on: the pilot underway in Forth Valley to test a new Community Policing Model, the next steps in relation to the use of Live Facial Recognition in policing and reported on the current budget position for this year.

There was a focus on opportunities for collaboration and co-location, recognising the shared challenges across Local Government and policing, particularly in relation to the estate. COSLA also updated on the work it is leading with a range of partners including the Authority, on barriers to elected office and civility in public life. This follows from the roundtable hosted by COSLA in May of this year. I was able to update on the work of the Authority in relation to Anti Social Behaviour and wider issues of community cohesion which will be a focus over this year.

Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ)

On 12 August, I met with Professor Fiona Dyer, Director of the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ). The CYCJ works to ensure that Scotland’s approach to children and young people in conflict with the law is rights-respecting and contributing to better outcomes for children, young people, and communities. The CYCJ brings together children and young people’s contributions, research evidence, practice wisdom and system knowledge to operate as a leader for child and youth justice thinking in Scotland and beyond.

The Authority has a longstanding relationship with the CYCJ. In 2022, the Authority collaborated with CYCJ and Police Scotland to bring together stakeholders to discuss Places of Safety for Children in Conflict with the Law. This event focused on developing alternative places of safety for children beyond police custody. This was the catalyst for the Authority publicly advocating that police custody is not a suitable environment for a child.

In 2023, a follow up event was organised by CYCJ, which brought practitioners and experts together to understand how the learning from the previous event was being implemented. This event found that further commitment and investment was required to reduce the number of children coming into custody, but that changes were being observed at a local level.

Professor Dyer and I discussed the lack of adequate suitable alternative places of safety for children and young people who come in contact with the police. The Authority will continue to advocate for more suitable alternatives where possible. We also discussed other current issues impacting on children and young people related to policing, including the importance of a trauma informed/aware approach, child criminal exploitation, and the condition of the police estate.

COSLA Presidential Meeting

The Chief Constable and I met with Councillor Shona Morrison, President of COSLA and Councillor Maureen Chalmers, Community Wellbeing Spokesperson at COSLA on 13 August. I really value this opportunity to meet as a strategic partnership on a regular basis to discuss shared opportunities and challenges. Councillor Morrison, Councillor Chalmers, the Chief Constable and I discussed the planned roll out of a new community policing model and early learning from that. We also discussed Operation Ford, which is focused on elected member safety alongside the wider civility in public life work led by COSLA. We also took the opportunity to refresh our commitment to the Authority/ COSLA / Police Scotland Strategic Partnership Agreement and supporting Delivery Plan and discussed our planned attendance at a meeting of all Council Leaders at the end of this year.

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner (SBC)

I met with Dr Brian Plastow, the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner (SBC) on 13 August. This was an opportunity to discuss important developments in policing, for example the ethical use of Live Facial Recognition technology, and the related human rights considerations.

Dr Plastow reiterated that he supports and promotes the adoption of lawful, effective, and ethical practices in relation to the acquisition, retention, use and destruction of biometric data for criminal justice and police purposes by Police Scotland, the Authority and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

The SBC holds these policing bodies to account, including the Authority, through an approved Code of Practice.

The Authority and the SBC have a long-standing, collaborative relationship. The Authority supported a Joint Assurance Review of the acquisition of biometric data from children arrested in Scotland. The Authority also collaborated with SBC and Police Scotland to deliver the first Biometrics in Criminal Justice Conference in June 2024. This led to the launch of the National Conversation on Live Facial Recognition, hosted by the Authority, SBC and Police Scotland.

I reiterated the Authority’s support and thanks for the Commissioners ongoing work to provide valuable independent assurance and insight around the use of technology and biometric data in policing.

Police Negotiating Board for Scotland (PNBS)

On 13 August, I met with Lisa Blackett, Chair of the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland (PNBS) who took up her role in September 2023 for a four year appointment term. This was an opportunity for me to introduce myself as Chair of the Authority and to get a better understanding of the key issues for the PNBS.

The PNBS is a Scottish public body that negotiates the pay, terms and conditions of police officers in Scotland. The PNBS seeks to reach agreement between the Official Side (Scottish Government, the Authority and Police Scotland) and the Staff Side (Scottish Police Federation, the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents and the Scottish Chief Police Officers Staff Association). Agreements are then recommended to Scottish ministers to become part of police regulations and determinations. The PNBS has a key role to play during pay negotiations. The Authority is currently represented on PNBS by Pauline Howie, Board Member and Chris Brown, Deputy Chief Executive (Resources).

Board Member Recruitment

The Scottish Government launched a recruitment process in April seeking five new Board members to join the Authority. The process is led by the Public Appointments Scotland team. As Chair of the Authority I am one of four members on the selection panel.

The recruitment process is now complete and an announcement will be made by the Scottish Government in due course. I hope to welcome new Members later this year.