Policing Together Oversight Group - 20 November 2025

MAIN ITEMS OF BUSINESS
- Policing Together Performance Update Report Q1 & Q2 2025
- Policing Together Progress Report
- Sex Equality & Tackling Misogyny: Next Steps Aligned to Policing Together
- Culture Dashboard/ Performance Measures

KEY ISSUES RAISED
A 6-monthly Performance Report was presented which provided an overview of Police Scotland’s Policing Together progress. Members were encouraged by the steady progress made to address the Master Actions and requested that progress is detailed within an appendix in future reporting. Members were provided with an update on progress against the Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) strategy which sits separate to the Policing Together activities. Members were supportive that VAWG reporting continues to be included within this update given its links. The Oversight Group discussed efforts to benchmark Policing Together progress against other public bodies and police services. Members commended Police Scotland for their action to date, responsiveness to feedback and focus on data to track and measure progress.

Members considered an update on the progress of the work within the Communities & Learning pillars of the Policing Together Strategy. The Oversight Group received an overview of the inaugural meeting of the newly established Independent Policing Advisory Council. Members were encouraged by the positive feedback emerging from the forum. The Oversight Group welcomed reassurance that Police Scotland continues to engage with communities and closely monitor any prospective protests or community tensions. Members sought and received assurance that Police Scotland strives to ensure all key partners are included in engagement opportunities, offering 1-2-1 engagement for those not comfortable participating in group discussions. Regarding the Learning pillar, Members received updates on the Anti-Racism and Act Don’t React training programmes and were encouraged to hear that these are now being delivered across a wider range of business areas within Police Scotland. Members acknowledged the continually evolving body of work within the Learning pillar and commended progress to date.

The Oversight Group received a comprehensive update which detailed the full re-alignment of the Sex Equality & Tackling Misogyny workstream to the Policing Together Portfolio. Members expressed their support for this change.

Members received a demonstration of the Police Scotland Culture Dashboard, which had previously been shared with the Oversight Group on 11 October 2024. They noted the visible progress made to date and expressed confidence in the breadth of data available within the dashboard, recognising that these metrics will be essential in tracking Police Scotland’s progress towards becoming and anti-racist and anti-discriminatory organisation. Members considered opportunities for internal and external communication regarding the dashboard.

This was the penultimate meeting of the Policing Together Oversight Group. The final meeting will take place in February/ March 2026 and future Policing Together reporting will be presented at the Authority’s People Committee.

CONCLUSIONS/ACTIONS REACHED

• Members requested that future updates against Master Actions on the Policing Together Implementation Plan are contained within an appendix.
• The Oversight Group received an overview of the inaugural Independent Policing Advisory Group and were encouraged by the positive feedback.
• Members sought and received assurance that Police Scotland is committed to ensuring all key stakeholders are included in engagement opportunities.
• Members were supportive of the full re-alignment of the Sex Equality & Tackling Misogyny workstream to the Policing Together Portfolio.
• The Oversight Group welcomed the demonstration of the Police Scotland Culture Dashboard, commending the progress since the last demonstration in October 2024.
• The final meeting of the Policing Together Oversight Group will take place in February/ March 2026, with future Policing Together reporting being presented at the Authority’s People Committee.