Consultation Hub

Policing 2026 is a collaborative and strategic programme of work by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and Police Scotland, intended to transform policing in Scotland over the next decade.

Between February and May 2017 we asked the public, our staff, stakeholders and our partners for views on our draft strategy document, in particular:

• whether it identified and acknowledged the main risks, challenges, opportunities and demands that are likely to impact on policing over the next 10 years
• whether the main areas of focus and methods proposed are the right ones to deliver an improved policing service
• about using public confidence as a key measure of success and effectiveness of performance
• our approach to re-shaping our organisation with a workforce focussed on having the right skills and capacity to meet future challenges
• if the strategy document was presented in a clear and understandable way

We also welcomed any other comments on the strategy and its impact.

We received 1715 responses to the consultation, supplemented by additional feedback we gathered from events and other activity with our staff, partners and the public, both before and during the consultation.

The strategy was well received with the majority agreeing with our proposals and approach across all questions.

Feedback was generally very positive about the vision set out in the strategy, the means of achieving it, and prospects for delivering sustained excellence in service and protection for the people of Scotland.

We undertook detailed analysis of the responses to the consultation and reviewed the strategy document against the feedback received.

As a result of the positive responses received there was no need to change the main elements of the strategy.

Some recurring themes were identified as a result of our analysis and you will see a stronger emphasis on the recognised value of our volunteer and charitable partners across the country. We have also reinforced our continued commitment to community planning to best serve local communities and to recognise the needs of our remote and rural communities. We have made more specific reference outlining our commitment to staff welfare and we have expanded on financial planning in response to comments about the future of police budgets over the next decade.

This helpful and constructive feedback about how we take the final strategy forward will also be built this into our implementation planning and future delivery.

The analysis report and responses to the consultation have now been published.