Report Summary
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) seeks to provide a guide to early and effective identification, and appropriate engagement, between the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland when it is considering a new and emerging strategy, policy or practice to improve the safety and wellbeing of persons, localities and communities in Scotland, and which are likely to be of significant public interest.
This updated MoU was presented at the May 2025 Authority meeting.
To access the full document please open the PDF document above.
To view as accessible content please use the sections below. (Note that tables and some appendixes are not available as accessible content).
3. Areas and issues covered by this Memorandum of Understanding
Police Scotland will ensure, wherever possible, early engagement with the Authority, to assess whether the new or revised strategy policy or practice meets the following criteria:
• that it is likely to cause significant ethical, privacy or human rights concerns to be raised by stakeholders and the public, or
• to have a significant impact on public perceptions of, or confidence, in policing.
Police Scotland will ensure that, at the appropriate stage, any significant new or revised strategy, policy or practice developments are subject to tests of legality and proportionality, Human Rights and Equality Impact
Assessments, Data Protection Impact Assessments, Community Impact Assessments, and any other appropriate assessment process which will inform the public interest considerations. The Authority will review these assessments and may seek further assurances from Police Scotland on the details of the assessments and the degree to which there has been partner and public engagement.
The Authority will actively collaborate in early engagement with Police Scotland over new or revised strategy, policies or practice which fall within the remit of this MOU.
The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, by the Chief Constable and the Chair of the Authority, is an agreement that the principles should be applied as the default approach to the relationship between both
organisations, regarding changes to policing which are likely to generate significant public interest.
On occasion, there may be specific areas of strategy, policy, or practice where it is appropriate for the Authority and Police Scotland to jointly lead engagement and communication on the issue. The Authority and Police Scotland will respectively appoint lead officials to take this work forward. The Chief Constable and Authority Chair may also consider whether it is appropriate to establish an Independent Advisory Group or dedicated Authority Oversight Group for the issue.
