Report detail

2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts

Following approval of the audited Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) for 2024/25 at the September Authority Meeting. I can confirm that the Accounts are anticipated to be laid in the Scottish Parliament on Monday 1 December 2025 and thereafter published on the Authority’s website.

Criminal Justice Committee – Pre-budget scrutiny

On Wednesday 5 November 2025, I attended the Criminal Justice Committee alongside the Chair, Fiona McQueen and Vice Chair Alasdair Hay to provide evidence as part of the Committee’s pre-budget scrutiny of the 2026/27 policing budget.

The Authority provided a written submission to the Committee in advance of the session, setting out clearly the requirements for next year’s budget based on several assumptions.

At the session I was asked to provide additional information in relation to our benchmarking of the Scottish Police Authority’s Corporate function which supports the Board’s oversight and scrutiny of policing in Scotland. I wrote to the Criminal Justice Committee on Monday 17 November 2025 outlining how the Authority’s arrangements and funding compares against other similar policing bodies in the UK. Members will recall that this information was presented to our Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee and discussed by Members in August 2024.

Best Value Audit and Inspection

I received a draft of the HMICS and Audit Scotland, Best Value Audit of Policing in Scotland on Friday 31 October 2025. I also met with HMICS and Audit Scotland to discuss the draft report. Similar meetings have also taken place with the Chief Constable and Director of Forensics Services. The Best Value teams across policing have now provided factual accuracy feedback on the draft report.

The HMICS and Audit Scotland inspection team will consider all feedback received and finalise the report in the coming month. We anticipate publication in the New Year.

Estates Deep Dive

On Friday 7 November 2025, Police Scotland’s estates team led a deep dive session with Board Members to provide an update on progress against the estates masterplan and highlighting some key achievements over the last year.

Donna Vallance, Police Scotland’s recently appointed Chief Officer Estates, led the session. She outlined her plans to strengthen internal governance processes and review and enhance the resources within the estates function.

The session focused on the next phase of the masterplan across the West of Scotland and Tayside. Members also received specific updates on estates projects including Jackton, Fettes and Greenock. Members can expect to see projects progress through formal governance and reporting to the Resources Committee and Board in due course.

International Development Board

Board Member Tom Halpin is a member of the International Development Board. At the most recent meeting in July 2025, the International Academy provided a comprehensive update on the ongoing work in Malawi and Zambia, around child protection and gender-based violence training. As part of this Scottish Government funded initiative, Police Scotland officers are deployed out to Malawi and Zambia to share learning and best practice and have been fundamental in developing a sustainable training model to over 160 police officers in Malawi and Zambia.

This meeting also heard updates on secondments to the Royal Falkland Islands Police, mentorship opportunities in Norway and in-bound training provided at the Scottish Police College. These opportunities not only provide development opportunities to the officers and staff involved but also bring benefits to the wider organisation and to the people of Scotland through the developing officers and staff as global citizens. The initiatives and partnerships developed and outlined by the International Academy demonstrate the formidable reputation of Police Scotland in the international policing community.

The International Development Strategy was published in 2021, and considerable progress has been made since its publication. The Authority has requested review of this strategy to ensure that the strategic direction of the Academy is clear, measurable, and reflective of Police Scotland’s priorities.

Scottish Railway Policing Committee

A meeting of the Scottish Railway Policing Committee took place on Friday 19 September 2025. Tom Halpin and Mary Pitcaithly were in attendance and represented the Authority at this committee.

A report summarising the key issues covered at this meeting is included at Appendix A. Further detail can be found on the British Transport Police Authority website. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Tuesday 25 November 2025.

On Wednesday 8 October 2025 Authority members Tom Halpin and Mary Pitcaithly attended the annual British Transport Police Authority engagement session in Glasgow. As the Authority’s representatives on the Scottish Railway Policing Committee, they value the opportunity to engage with the BTPA board and identify topics which present opportunities for further collaboration and interoperability between Police Scotland and BTP.

Knowledge Exchange Visit - Policing and Community Safety Authority

On Wednesday 22 October 2025 the Authority hosted colleagues from the Policing and Community Safety Authority for a discussion on oversight of operational public interest issues, engagement, and strategic priorities. This session continued the strong relationship built between the oversight bodies for Scotland and the Republic of Ireland and builds on our existing benchmarking relationship. We were also pleased to have the opportunity to provide feedback as part of their Strategic Plan consultation which closed on Wednesday 12 November 2025.