Director of Safer Communities

Responsibilities

Responsibilities for the Director of Safer Communities include:

• leadership of policy on all aspects of policing, including governance, funding and future strategy
• leadership of policy on all aspects of fire and safety, community safety, violence reduction and tackling sectarianism
• sponsorship of Scottish Police Authority, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Investigation and Review Commissioner and HM Inspectorates of Police and Fire Service
• oversight of the Cashback for Communities Programme, investing the proceeds of crime in our most deprived communities to benefit young people
• leadership and oversight of delivery of the Cyber Resilience Strategy, Contest Strategy and Serious Organised Crime Strategy
• oversight of the Investigatory Powers regime and the use of those powers by Ministers
• co-ordination of support to our armed forces and veterans

Biography

Don joined the Scottish Government in 2001 after 10 years in the Ministry of Defence.

He held senior civil service roles in criminal justice, constitution, policing and environment before becoming Interim Director of Safer Communities in 2021. He also played a leading role in the development of Scotland’s Future, the white paper on Scottish independence and the 2014 referendum.

Don is married with two teenage children.