Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee with an overview of the on-going review in relation to Sex and Gender within Scottish Policing.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 10 June 2025
Date : 10 June 2025
Location : online
Background
On 26 September 2024, Chief Constable Farrell addressed the matter of gender self-identification during a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority.
During this statement the Chief Constable stated that ACC Catriona Paton would review Police Scotland’s recording and use of data relating to sex and gender.
On 16 April 2025, the UK Supreme Court delivered a ruling in the case For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers that the terms ‘sex’ referred to biological sex for all purposes under the Equality Act 2010.
The wellbeing of our people and communities is a priority. Following the UK Supreme Court decision, ACC Paton has circulated a series of messages signposting our people and communities to a range of established support mechanisms and recognising the impact the decision may have had on individual lives. Ongoing engagement has also provided the opportunity to listen to and understand how staff and communities feel following the decision and to ensure that we remain sensitive and attentive in our thinking and approach to this work.
This report will provide an overview of the approach and progress to date relevant to Police Scotland’s wider review concerning sex and gender.
