Updates

Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS)

The latest Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS), covering the period July 2023-July 2024, was published on 10 June 2025. This survey presents findings based on interviews with almost 5000 adults in Scotland. The SCJS tells us that around 20% of adults were a victim of at least one type of crime and that fraud and computer related crime made up 44% of all crimes in the year.

There were 231,000 violent crimes experienced in 2023-24, 73% higher than in 2021-22. This is an area of interest and scrutiny for our Policing Performance Committee. Repeat victimisation continues to be a challenge in Scotland, with 6% of adults having experienced 55% of all crimes reported through SCJS.

The SCJS reports that around 21% of all crimes, including fraud and computer misuse, were estimated to have been reported to the police. The Authority values the insights provided by the SCJS and will work with Police Scotland, through the Policing Performance Committee, to understand these insights alongside Police Scotland and the Authority’s data.

2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts

I am pleased to confirm that the Scottish Police Authority has submitted its accounts for 2024-25 to our Auditor. This has been submitted by the agreed deadline and marks an important milestone and aims to support laying the accounts in Parliament later in the year. I would like to thank the staff in SPA, Police Scotland and Forensic Services for their work in meeting this deadline.

Best Value Audit and Inspection

Audit Scotland and HMICS have commenced their audit and inspection field work. On 22 May 2025 the Chief Constable hosted an opening meeting and since then interviews have taken place with a wide range of officers, staff and Members across all areas of policing.

Scottish Railway Policing Committee

A meeting of the Scottish Railway Policing Committee took place on Wednesday 4 June 2025. Tom Halpin and Mary Pitcaithly were in attendance and represented the Authority at this committee.

A report summarising the key issues covered at this meeting is included at Appendix A. Further detail can be found on the British Transport Police Authority website. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Friday 19 September 2025.

Board Members’ Expenses Policy

A review was recently undertaken of the Authority’s Board Members’ Expenses Policy. The policy was last reviewed in 2021 to ensure it was consistent with the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy Technical Guide; the Scottish Government’s Travel Management policy on air and rail travel and HMRC Guidance.

To identify any best practice or inconsistencies, officials compared the policy against those publicly available for non-executive Board members on other public bodies. Findings suggest the Authority’s policy is generally consistent with principles, content and rates for other non-executive members. However, a number of updates have been made to the policy, including:

• The inclusion of key principles to introduce the policy
• Requirement to consider best value
• A change to the maximum expense rates relevant to meals and accommodation and a requirement that claims require receipts
• Current practice, whereby Members do not claim for alcohol, has been made explicit in the policy
• Updating the office address to 2 French Street, Dalmarnock, Glasgow, G40 4EH.

The updated policy has been published on the Authority’s website for transparency. The policy can also be viewed alongside the quarterly publications of Board Member remuneration and expenses claims.