Embedding values

More than 23,000 people support delivery of policing in Scotland, across a wide range of roles. It is through their professionalism, personal commitment and shared endeavours that this Strategic Police Plan will be successfully implemented.

Values form the foundation of organisational culture. They underpin our strategies, policies, practices decision-making and the individual interactions we have with colleagues and the communities we serve.
We must demonstrate these values individually and collectively every day.

In launching the Policing Together Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Police Scotland has committed to building an anti-discriminatory service. This is demanded by our standards of professional behaviour, our code of ethics, and by our values and purpose.

The Authority and Police Scotland have adopted a Competency Values Framework (CVF) which was developed by the College of Policing and modified to incorporate Police Scotland’s Values and Code of Ethics. This is represented in the diagram below. A variation of the framework applies to Authority staff in recognition of the Authority’s distinct organisational values.

Intelligent, creative and informed policing Inclusive, enabling and visionary leadership Resolute, compassionate and committed We are emotionally aware We are innovative and open minded We are collaborative We deliver, support and inspire We analyse critically We take ownership Fairness Respect Integrity Values and Code of Ethics

The CVF for Police Scotland provides policing professionals with a consistent foundation and supports the delivery of a positive culture for the organisation as well as improvements to external service delivery. It sets out nationally recognised behaviours and values used for a range of local and national people processes, including recognising performance, setting objectives, recruitment and promotion.

The Scottish Government’s Strategic Police Priorities

Under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, the Scottish Government determines Strategic Police Priorities for the Scottish Police Authority. These priorities set the high-level strategic direction for the Authority and, through this Strategic Police Plan, Police Scotland.

Crime and Security: prioritises prevention, detection, investigation, equality and human rights to support positive criminal justice outcomes; responds to threats, and maintains public order, both locally and nationally.

Confidence: continues to inspire public trust by being ethical, open, transparent person-centred and trauma informed; maintains relationships and engages with local communities, to build a positive reputation at a local, national and international level.

Partnerships: works proactively with key sectors to maintain safe communities and support improved outcomes for individuals, increasing resilience and addressing vulnerability.

Sustainability: adapts resources and plans for both current and future social, economic and financial circumstances considering equalities perspectives and the environmental impact of policing and its operations.

People: values, supports, engages and empowers a diverse workforce to lead and deliver high quality services, with a focus on workforce development, equality, inclusion and overall wellbeing.

Evidence: uses evidence to innovate and develop services which address the current and emerging needs of individuals and local communities, and ensure that resources, capacity, insight and skills are in the right place to deliver outcomes.

The Scottish Government confirmed its Strategic Police Priorities on 26 January 2023.

National Strategic Assessment

In assessing the strategic environment in which policing is delivered now and in the future, a wide range of external drivers have been taken into consideration.

These include societal changes and demographic projections for the changing shape, and therefore needs, of the communities that Police Scotland serves and the growing prevalence of mental health issues and cases of vulnerable individuals.

Through local authority scrutiny arrangements, local networks and public engagement work, we are committed to hearing and reflecting on the views of the diverse range of both urban, rural and remote communities across Scotland. This helps us to understand the changing demands on policing services and where these must join with those provided by partner agencies.

In order to design the best possible services, this strategy is informed by the findings of the National Strategic Assessment and the knowledge and experience of police leaders across the service.

The Strategic Assessment is a comprehensive, risk-based assessment of operational policing issues, combined with an organisational assessment of the approach, capability and capacity to support the delivery of policing services. The assessment includes consideration of the full range of government policy and strategy as they relate to policing, for example, Scottish Government National Outcomes, Vision for Justice, CYBER and the UK Defence Strategy.

The assessment provides an analysis of crime and incident data, intelligence, horizon-scanning and emerging threats, with links to the wider picture across the UK.

The building of the National Strategic Assessment includes insights from the public, partners, colleagues and stakeholders. It underpins this joint strategy, creating a clear, evidence-base for policing’s strategic direction in line with the wider and anticipated future strategic context for policing.

Drivers for change Increasing demand

More than 80% of the calls we receive do not result in a crime being recorded (2018)

Drug related deaths remain high

In 2022/23, there were 16,879 reported cases of fraud, over 90% of which have an online aspect

Sustained increase in online child abuse referrals

Cyber and digital enabled crime continues to increase

67% of stalking / harassment crimes now relate to text or online

In 2022/23 there was an average of 18 assaults on officers/staff every day

Scotland is as a desirable location for major events, in part due to successful policing

Changing nature of crime and society

The population of Scotland is projected to continue increasing for the next ten years, with the number of people aged 65 and over to grow by nearly a third by mid- 2045

More people in Scotland are now living with one or more complex health conditions

Cost of living crisis / economic volatility continuing

Increasing numbers of people living in temporary accommodation

Across Scotland, public services, businesses and third sector organisations are recovering from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic

Time spent online is increasing year on year whilst risk of harm rises

Sustainability Financial

£200 million has been removed from the annual cost of policing

Real terms reduction in funding for policing in 2023-24, including flat cash capital funding of £53 million

The 2023/24 budget has a core assumption that the overall workforce will be reduced by ~3.7%

Environmental

Scottish Government Net Zero target 2045 – current emissions are 51,000 tonnes of CO2

First environmental strategy for policing

Aim to become the first fully ULEV blue light fleet in the UK

Opportunities for co-location and to replace older, inefficient buildings

Workforce

Increased support for agile and flexible working

Focus on health and wellbeing

Policing Together programme will support an inclusive workforce

People will remain in the workforce for longer

Support for new skills, including cyber capability, across policing