Research and insights
This is about what we do to ensure the public, communities and partners are engaged, involved and have confidence in policing.
The high-quality research and insight programmes we deliver ensures our services meet the needs of everyone within the diverse communities that we serve.
We have processes in place to ensure we respond to what you tell us. We also ensure that there are appropriate and effective ways for you to help improve the services we deliver.
Communities in Scotland rightly expect and deserve a police service of the highest quality. It is through research and insight that we ensure we are meeting the needs of our diverse communities.
Research and insight teams are based within our Strategy, Insight and Engagement service area. This is within our Strategy and Analysis Directorate.
Research and insight is split into two separate but connected areas of service delivery: academic research and insight and engagement. Our team of research, insight and public engagement specialists lead the planning and facilitation of research and public engagement on behalf of Police Scotland.
Our academic research team support the academic community in Scotland. They do this by shaping evidence-led policing through high-quality police-academic research collaborations.
Our insight and engagement team design and lead public engagement and participation activity using innovative approaches. They are guided by our Engagement and Participation Framework.
We work collaboratively with a number of partners in the public, third and private sectors. These include strong partnerships with the Scottish Institute for Policing Research and the Open University’s Centre for Policing Research and Learning.
We also spend time designing and delivering public engagement activities in local communities. This aims to reach people who may be less likely to engage with us.
We are open, collaborative and invite anyone with an interest in public engagement or research to contact the Insight and Engagement email address. We’re keen to learn and develop our approaches to ensure we are sector leading.
Our approach to public engagement, service design, co-production and research activity will always be underpinned by our values of integrity, fairness and respect and we embed human rights, including children’s rights, in everything we do.
Your feedback and views helps us learn about different communities’ needs. We share how you can get involved in what we are doing on our online Engagement Hub. We want you to influence the decisions we make about the things which matter to you.
Outcomes, updates and public reports on past engagement activities are also available on our Engagement Hub.
Our team of specialists follow sector guidance such as the Market Research Society’s Code of Conduct and the National Standards for Community Engagement. Staff within our team are members of the Community Learning and Development Standards Council for Scotland, the professional body for people working in CLD roles (such as public engagement).
If you have any questions related to insight, public engagement or academic research, please contact us:
- Academic Research: AcademicResearch@scotland.police.uk
- Insight and Engagement: InsightEngagement@scotland.police.uk.
Contact us if would like this information in an alternative format or language.
