Implications

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no immediate financial implications for the Scottish Police Authority contained within this paper.

As detailed previously, a review of the Special Constable Periodic Payment is ongoing and the results of this review will be formulated in due course.

It should be noted that recent academic reviews have demonstrated that for £1 invested in Special Constables, the fiscal return is 3.5 fold and for every £1 invested in the PSYV, the fiscal return is sevenfold.
 
PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS 

The Volunteering Plan 2026-29 and related papers is the result of extensive consultation across a range of internal and external stakeholders including the volunteers themselves and the Association of Special Constable Officers (ASCO).

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no immediate social implications for the Scottish Police Authority contained within this paper.

However, it should be noted that PSYV provides young people aged 13 to 18 years of age from a wide range of diverse communities, including 25% from vulnerable backgrounds, with a positive means of engaging with the police through regular training, participation in community safety initiatives and volunteering in their communities.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

For over a century, volunteers have been a vital part of policing in Scotland, particularly through the contributions of Special Constables and more recently, the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers (PSYV).

These dedicated individuals help to bridge the gap between our service and the communities we serve, enhancing public trust and supporting the police in ways that go far beyond simple assistance.

In recent years, the role of volunteers has evolved significantly. The PSYV programme, established in 2014, continues to thrive, fostering positive relationships between young people and the police, while providing valuable support to both local initiatives and major police operations.

The Volunteering Plan will seek to build on these foundations and further enhance the positive contribution volunteers provide to policing and, in turn, the communities themselves.
 
EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
 
A recent audit revealed that approximately 40% of Police Scotland’s Youth Volunteers come from the lowest two bands in the five quintiles of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).  This is a significant difference compared to previous research, which indicated that only 16% of youth volunteers in Scotland come from these same quintiles.

Volunteering programmes also promotes inclusivity within the service by attracting a diverse range of people from seldom heard communities, appropriately reflecting the demographics of Scotland, and for some, it may serve as a pathway to a career in policing or other public service roles.