Policing Performance Committee

The formal minute of the items of business will be available at the meeting scheduled for 9 December 2025. This will also be published on the Authority’s website. A full recording of the items of business taken at this meeting can be accessed at Policing Performance Committee - 16 September 2025.

Main items of business
• Policing Performance Reporting
• Operational Matters
• Partnership & Community Focus
• Oversight of Improvement in Policing
• Work Plan

Policing Performance Reporting

Members considered and endorsed the Police Scotland Performance Accountability Framework 2025-26, recognising the work done to reflect Member feedback. Members sought more detail on how disaggregated data will be included in reporting in future, recognising the need to reflect and learn from local variation.

The Q1 Policing Performance Report was discussed at length, recognising the increasing demand offset by improved detection rates in a range of crime areas. Members noted the improvements in reporting which allow the Committee to hold the service and the Chief Constable to account for the delivery of policing. Areas of focus for Committee oversight and scrutiny included public confidence, the Policing for our Communities Programme, young people in custody, planned interview pathways, antisocial behaviour, youth violence and disorder, DESC, assaults on staff and officers, VAWG, Fraud, drug harm, retail crime, and road safety.

Operational Matters
The Committee received an update in respect of the work progressing within Police Scotland on developing the use case, policies and procedures for adoption of Live Facial Recognition as well as a business case for the technology required to support this. Members welcomed the reaffirmed commitment to the rights-based pathway approach in this development and requested that the Committee receives an update on the timeline for engagement and consultation on this work. Assurances were sought around evaluation of the work and ensuring opportunities for interoperability, such as with BTP, are realised.
Committee received annual assurance updates on a range of operational issues. Members sought, and received, assurance that further proposed roll out of specially trained officers for Tasers would be reported through committee before roll-out was progressed. RPAS expansion was welcomed, with the commitment to continued engagement and use of the rights-based pathway. Members sought more detail on processes for understanding anomalies in the application of stop and search and how these inform operational practice. Enhanced data on use of stop and search, particularly where there are deviations from standard practice, will be explored and reported back as available. Finally in this section Members sought, and received, assurances around delivery of a roads policing improvement plan for Scotland.
Members were assured by the assessment undertaken in Police Scotland against findings from the Baroness Casey review in relation to group based child sexual exploitation and abuse and the positive national provision in Scotland against the assessment as well as the commitment to further work in this area.
Members welcomed the range and breadth of work underway in Police Scotland and with partners to respond to, and prevent, violence affecting children and young people.
Following an overview of work to rationalise and refresh the approach to Violence Against Women & Girls, including with partners, Members welcomed the commitment to further detailed progress reporting to committee covering delivery to date, prioritisation and alignment to the national Equally Safe Strategy.
Partnership & Community Focus
Members welcomed the most recent public polling report, including increasing levels of trust and confidence. Committee stressed the importance of using a range of data sources to understand public views. Linked to this, Members welcomed an update from Scottish Government on key findings from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey and sought clarity on how results will be cascaded to the public.

Members welcomed the update from COSLA on work underway and reiterated their commitment to joint work to respond to key public issues such as ASB and community cohesion.

After hearing an update on the work of the Mental Health Distress Partnership Delivery Group the committee welcomed the clear commitment to collaboration and partnership through the framework and commitments. Members sought, and received, assurance that all partners who should be involved in this work are clearly on board. Members also sought clarity from Police Scotland on when they will have sight of the Mental Health Dashboard.

Oversight of Improvement in Policing
Members welcomed the overview report on HMICS improvement activity and discussed the range of themes which have been identified as contributing to delayed actions. Committee acknowledge the partnership asks across key areas and requested work is done on mapping the governance routes and gaps for delivery of key recommendations.

Committee welcomed the overview from HMCI on the recent frontline focus report on tools of the trade and the additional response provided by Police Scotland on these recommendations. Members recognise the complexity of this area and the focus on ensuring the necessary tools to deliver are understood and provided. Members sought assurance that Police Scotland will focus on a clearly articulated and understood set of standards around uniform and equipment and that this will be benchmarking in the UK and beyond.

Work Plan
Members discussed the committee work plan and noted that this document will evolve over time with items being added.

Conclusions Reached

Police Scotland to provide an update regarding the timeline of work in respect of preparation for potential use of LFR and also provide clarity on budget and planning at the next meeting.

Members requested enhanced data on use of stop and search, particularly where there are deviations from standard practice.

Future VAWG reporting to include detail around delivery to date, prioritisation and alignment to the national Equally Safe Strategy.

The Committee requested that work is undertaken to map the governance routes and gaps for delivery of key HMICS recommendations.