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).
5. Identification and Assessment
• Develop a short description of the issue and a description of the clear and defined purpose to improve the safety and wellbeing of persons, localities, and communities in Scotland.
• An assessment of whether and how it meets the remit of this MOU (particularly in terms of public interest and impact).
• Should it be assessed that the brief does not meet the remit of the MOU, a written rationale will be recorded and retained.
• An outline of clear timelines for proposed implementation.
• There should be a strong emphasis, whether instigated by Police Scotland or the Authority, on (a) the early identification of issues connected to public/political/partner confidence, (b) an outline of the key ethical, privacy or human rights considerations, and (c) other associated risks.
