2026

Overview

Policing in Scotland has a long and successful record of adapting to the changing demands and needs of people and communities. We are now setting out for consultation our proposed 10 year strategy, developed collaboratively by the SPA and Police Scotland, to ensure that scottish policing remains fit for the future.

Policing has undergone major change in recent years with the transition to a single service. Despite the scale of the change, the most significant in policing in more than a generation, communities have continued to benefit from a service which has performed strongly through the activity of both local and national resources.

However, Scotland’s communities continue to diversify and grow, and the needs of people in society are changing. Demands on policing are growing as the world around us changes at rapid pace. In order to meet the evolving needs of all Scotland’s communities we must also continue to change. Our draft strategy sets out why we must change, what will change and how we will make the change happen.

Why your views matter

The strategy is a draft version.  We are seeking your views and input to help us shape the final publication.

We want to meaningfully involve our communities, our staff and our stakeholders in the future delivery of policing services.

We are reaching out in a pro-active way, ensuring the broadest and most diverse range of recipients possible have the chance to inform and influence our final strategy.

We have made it as easy as possible for you to submit responses, via this digital platform.

Alternatively you can respond in writing to:

Policing 2026 Consultation
Clyde Gateway
2 French Street
Dalmarnock
Glasgow
G40 4EH

Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and helping shape the future of policing.

Please click here to read our Strategy
 

What happens next

After the consultation closes on the 8th May, the submissions will be reviewed and analysed.

We will be fully transparent regarding the responses and we will publish, those we have permission to, on this site as soon as we can after the consultation has closed.

We will also prepare a consultation analysis report, which will summarise the feedback and potential changes to the Policing 2026 Strategy. A copy of this report will be published on this website when it is complete.

After evaluation and feedback, the SPA board will recommend a final strategy to the cabinet secretary for justice for approval in June.

Detailed three-year implementation plans will then be developed to set out how the SPA and Police Scotland will meet new and existing demands and deliver improved benefits for communities across Scotland.

We shall update the webpage once the final version of the strategy is completed, clearly showing any changes that have been made as a result of your feedback.