Scottish Police Authority Board November 2024

Chief Constable Jo Farrell attended a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority Board in Glasgow on Thursday, 28 November, 2024.

Read the Chief’s statement in full:

Good morning,

I want to begin by acknowledging the 20th anniversary of the murder of Alistair Wilson.

Today, Police Scotland makes a fresh appeal for information relating to Alistair’s murder. I would repeat our appeal that anyone with information please contact us, on 101, or through the dedicated online portal which can be found on our website.

A new investigation team is in place and detectives will examine all evidence gathered over the last 20 years, as well as investigate new opportunities for fresh lines of enquiry, such as advances in technology and forensic testing.

We are committed to this reinvestigation and I would underline our support for Alistair’s family and our resolute determination to bring those involved in Alistair’s murder to justice.

Turning to my report, I want to thank our communities, colleagues at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and other partners who worked with policing across months of planning and prevention and then during the intense period from the end of October into early November in response to the misuse of fireworks around Bonfire Night.

During our Operation Moonbeam period, I was able to meet with and thank officers, staff and partners for their contribution and I was hugely impressed by the collaborative approach taken to keep our communities, our partners and our own people safe.

Police officers and blue light colleagues once again demonstrated bravery and professionalism to respond to unacceptable behaviour and serious offending in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Although we did not experience the unprecedented violence, sustained disorder and large numbers of officers injured of 2023, communities and emergency service workers were still subjected to completely unacceptable conduct.

I want to send a very clear message that violence and disorder is not tolerated and we continue to use the evidence gathered on the nights and through follow-up investigations to bring those responsible to justice.

As of today, we have made 52 arrests and investigations continue.

We are also working with partners, including the Scottish Government, to determine what more can be done to prevent disorder, violence and misuse of fireworks around Bonfire Night and what further diversions can be implemented.

At this stage, I want to place on record my thanks to officers and staff and emergency service colleagues.

Earlier this month, Scotland welcomed law enforcement colleagues from around the world as INTERPOL hosted its 92nd General Assembly in Glasgow.

This international event shone a global spotlight on policing in Scotland and I met with the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer KC MP and the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP following the opening ceremony.

The event was an important opportunity to maintain and build upon the significant collaboration at international, national and regional levels between Police Scotland and agencies including INTERPOL, the National Crime Agency and others to make Scotland, and the world, a safer place and my report details court outcomes and operational action in respect of drug dealing and human trafficking which underline these principles.

My report also highlights significant criminal justice outcomes following investigations into murder, culpable homicide, and sexual offending, illustrating our commitment to securing justice for victims and their families.

Police Scotland is resolute in our determination to tackle violence against women and girls and our operational action and close engagement with partners and stakeholders, including survivors groups, continues to be complemented by powerful prevention campaigns. The latest iteration of our That Guy campaign, which encourages men to reflect on their own and their friends' and relatives’ behaviours to women. The campaign commenced at the end of October and has been shared widely.

In the coming weeks, we'll follow That Guy with support for 16 Days of Activism and our domestic abuse campaign.

As we enter the festive period, we will also focus on drink and drug driving as part of our year-round, partnership approach on road safety. The impact of fatal and serious collisions has long lasting consequences for people who have witnessed crashes and emergency responders first on the scene.

Road safety is a significant priority for Police Scotland and our officers are out every day educating road users and carrying out enforcement. I am also grateful to His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland for his work to highlight this crucial area of policing and we are working to meet the recommendations made.

It was encouraging to see the importance of road safety partnerships, and our good work with partners, recognised in this report.

We have outlined that we will identify and implement a sustainable model for road policing. I have been clear policing must evolve to meet demand, with a focus on enabling frontline officers and staff to deliver for communities.

My report illustrates the intense and broad demand policing responds to day in, day out and our vision for policing and business plan sets out how we'll meet the challenges of today and those on the horizon.

Last night, I thanked and congratulated officers and their families at the Scottish Police Federation annual awards at a ceremony held in Edinburgh.

The awards are an important night in the policing calendar, when we recognise and celebrate our officers for their vital public service, and it is important to shine a light on some of their outstanding work.

An appropriately resourced, effective police service is essential to deliver safer communities, less crime, supported victims and a thriving workforce.

Along with the Authority, I continue to ask the Scottish Government to support a second phase of police reform and, at the end of October, we outlined our budget proposal for 2025-26 to the Criminal Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

Later today, we will outline our strategic approach to estates planning over the next 10 years, which is a crucial element.

The budget proposal allows us to maintain a maximum of 16,600 police officers as part of a workforce of over 22,000 and budgets for a 2025-26 pay award in line with the Public Sector Pay Policy.

Pay is our most significant element of spend, accounting for around 87% of our revenue costs and pay inflation represents the largest proportion of revenue uplift.

My report outlines that headline 4.75% pay award offers have been made to officers and staff for the current year, 2024-25.

Formal processes are now under way to seek to progress agreements with officers and staff and we remain committed to achieving a fair outcome.

I have consistently highlighted the skill, commitment, goodwill and professionalism, our officers, staff, and volunteers demonstrate as they deliver a challenging and essential public service for our communities. I would take this opportunity to publicly reiterate and record my thanks for all they do.

As well as appropriate resourcing, equipment, and fair pay, officers, staff, and volunteers, must know that they are valued, have voice and that we will act what they say to improve their experiences and better support them to deliver for communities.

That's why we opened a Service-wide survey over the summer and we've had over 11,000 responses, which is a really strong response.

We've now published national findings, with internal communication and engagement to share the results ongoing. In the coming weeks and months, we'll follow-up with our workforce at a national and local level to set out the action we'll take based on what they've told us. I have also committed to running a survey on an annual basis.

Key to driving better experiences for all communities within Police Scotland and across broader society is our Policing Together programme, led by Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton.

My report outlines the development of learning under the Policing Together banner, including face-to-face anti-racist sessions and an 'Act, Don't React' approach to interactions with colleagues and members of the public which can help to keep people safe and increase trust in policing.

At the same time, we continue to host, recognise and celebrate events and key dates through our Policing Together programme and I outline a number of important engagements since my report in September which can develop our understanding of, and links with, communities, including Black History Month, Disability History Month and a meeting of community and faith leaders in Glasgow.

I also outline our attendance and recognition of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

Finally, I outline the latest intake of probationary constables who took their Oath of Office earlier this month, bringing our officer establishment to our budgeted maximum.

I'm grateful to our recruitment team for their significant efforts to bring us to this position and we continue to recruit officers to maintain that number as we experience natural attrition, for example through retirement.

I’ll conclude there Chair and answer questions.