Report Summary
A Public Briefing summarising Police Scotland's Trauma-Informed Practice. Published in May 2025.
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What is Trauma-Informed Practice?
According to researchers from the University of Edinburgh:
“Trauma-informed approaches describe a cultural shift in services towards recognising and responding appropriately to trauma in people who access a service and preventing re-traumatisation.”
Being a trauma-informed service means being able to identify the signs of trauma and adversity on people you come into contact with, and responding in a way that prevents further harm and supports recovery.
Being 'Trauma Informed' is underpinned by the 5 R's:
- Realising how common the experience of trauma and adversity is.
- Recognising the different ways that trauma can affect people.
- Responding by taking account of the ways that people can be affected by trauma to support recovery, and recognising and supporting Resilience.
- Providing opportunities to Resist re-traumatisation, offering a greater sense of choice and control, empowerment, collaboration and safety with everyone that you have contact with.
- Recognising the central importance of Relationships.
