Your Police 2021-2022

In April 2021, Police Scotland refreshed its local policing survey to gather views from Scotland’s diverse communities. Your Police 2021/2022 remained open throughout the year and helped us understand public opinion about local policing, as well as provide an opportunity for the public to tell us about any concerns regarding their area that are affecting their safety or wellbeing. Feedback via the survey has helped us ensure that our policing services in your community are the best they can be.

If you didn’t take part in Your Police last year, you can take part in our new Your Police 2022/23! Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say.

In total, we received 20,024 responses over 12 months, including over 50,000 free-text responses. There were 6,341 responses received in March 2022 alone – highlighting the continued dedication of local policing divisions in listening to the communities they serve.

The average public confidence level for the period April 2021 – March 2022 was 39%. This includes people who either ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that they have confidence in local police. Confidence levels among organisations who responded to Your Police (104 organisations) averaged 40%. 

We learned that things which affect public confidence include police visibility and accessibility, community engagement and the values and behaviours of our officers and staff. We also know that events taking place in local areas that attracted a large police presence had an impact on public confidence. Public confidence exists across all of our 13 local policing divisions.

Policing in your local area

A majority of people feel safe in their local areas – an average of 82% said they felt safe and this has remained the high over the past year. However, we know that there are people who feel less safe for a variety of reasons and the Service is now working to take action based on your feedback.

• 63% said police are friendly and approachable;
• 30% said police listen to the concerns of local people;
• 23% said the police deal with local issues.

A large number of respondents said they ‘don’t know’ when asked about these measures. We are now working with our Public Confidence Governance Board to enhance and expand our engagement within Scotland’s diverse communities. This board is chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond.

Concern about crime

42% said their concern about crime had remained the same while 54% said their concern had increased. 3% said it had decreased. We know that people with disabilities and those who live in areas most affected by poverty have more concern about crime.

Generally, people’s concerns have included: antisocial behaviour (including at local beauty spots and public parks/greenspace), speeding and dangerous driving, house break-ins, drug taking and dealing and wider vulnerability concerns about relatives and neighbours. Greater engagement being required with children and young people, including those who support them - such as youth workers, teachers, and sports clubs - was also highlighted.

On what matters most to the public (from open-ended responses), constant themes included: visibility and accessibility of police (a local presence), communicating and engaging with the public, and understanding the needs of diverse communities.

Your Police continues to be the largest of its kind in the UK and involves the public in a conversation about policing and their local community. Responses have been reviewed regularly by senior police officers and have helped us act quickly in relation to emerging issues; helping shape our approaches to operational policing across Scotland.

We have compared our data with other national public surveys to ensure that Your Police continues to provide robust insights which support effective and high quality policing in communities throughout Scotland.

Five things we have done with your feedback

1. Enhance local police presence at identified key locations (including scenic areas, parks, urban areas), with a focus on patrolling during the evenings and after dark. People told us a visible police presence was important in making them feel safe.
2. Update our local community partners on a regular basis, through local police scrutiny boards in each local authority area – using the data to design an appropriate policing response for local needs.
3. Shape our communications and advice in local areas in response to concerns and feedback from the public – helping people to stay safe.
4. Provide information and advice on issues like hate crime, housebreaking and responsibly use of vehicles (including off-road bikes and scooters) to reassure all communities.
5. Developed the ways that we share your feedback internally so that your local policing teams are aware of what matters to you. We have developed data dashboards and local area commanders are using your feedback to understand how to deploy police officers to keep your area safe.

Your feedback also shaped the Annual Police Plan 2022-23.

Thank you

We are grateful to all who participated in Your Police during 2021/22. Our Research and Insight team continue to review every response in detail and provide detailed reporting to senior management and the Scottish Police Authority (which is the organisation that helps ensure an effective and high-quality service).

The survey has been launched again for 2022/23; so make sure you fill it in! Responses to Your Police will continue to feed into decision-making structures within Police Scotland on a regular basis. Our Public Confidence Governance Board will build on the actions taken from the survey and continue to shape our approaches to improving public contact and engagement.

We are enhancing our local and national approaches to community engagement, and involving more people in more decisions about their police service in new ways. We will keep our Citizen Space platform and public information channels up to date regularly.

Further information: Any clarifications or questions about this update can be made by contacting the Research and Insight team:

InsightEngagement@scotland.police.uk