Strategic police priorities for Scotland: consultation

Hierarchy of Police Priorities and Planning

National Performance Framework

The National Performance Framework (NPF) is for all of Scotland. The NPF aims to:

• create a more successful country
• give opportunities to all people living in Scotland
• increase the wellbeing of people living in Scotland
• create sustainable and inclusive growth
• reduce inequalities and give equal importance to economic, environmental and social progress

To help achieve its purpose, the framework sets out 'national outcomes'. These outcomes describe the kind of Scotland it aims to create. They reflect the value and aspirations of the people of Scotland, are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and help to track progress in reducing inequality.

To achieve the national outcomes, the National Performance Framework aims to get everyone in Scotland to work together. This includes national and local government, public bodies, businesses, voluntary organisations and people living in Scotland.

Policing specifically contributes to meeting two key National Outcomes within the NPF: 'We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, and resilient and safe' and 'We respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination'^[8].

Justice in Scotland: Vision and Priorities

In 2017, the Scottish Government set out its Justice Vision and Priorities^[9] for Scotland, with a vision for a safe, just and resilient Scotland. This plan is intended for all of those working to keep communities safe and those who deliver civil, criminal and administrative justice. The SPPs support the delivery of a number of outcomes within the Justice Vision and Priorities, in particular 'We live in safe, cohesive and resilient communities' as well as 'Prevention and early intervention improve wellbeing and life chances', 'Our systems and interventions are proportionate, fair and effective' and 'We deliver person-centred, modern and affordable public services'.

Policing Principles

The Act sets out statutory policing principles at Section 32 which states that 'the main purpose of policing is to improve the safety and well-being of persons, localities and communities in Scotland'. The Police Service, working in collaboration, should seek to achieve this in a way which is accessible to, and engaged with, local communities, and promotes measures to prevent crime, harm and disorder. This core purpose informs all policing priorities and plans.

Planning Structure for Policing

The 2012 Act sets out the planning framework for policing in Scotland. This is set out within Figure 2.

Figure 2
Strategic framework for police planning

More broadly the SPPs contribute to the National Outcomes and support the delivery of the Justice in Scotland outcomes.

The legislation advocates clear alignment between the different levels of planning and priority setting. This is necessary to ensure that at all levels of policing – public appointments, officers and staff – there is an understanding of the contribution made to high level objectives and outcomes. The Scottish Government, SPA and Police Scotland have been working to ensure that this 'golden thread' runs through the strategic framework.

Strategic Police Priorities

The SPPs set the high level strategic direction for the policing of Scotland and the carrying out of the SPA's functions. The SPPs are set by Scottish Ministers and the legal framework for their development was established in the Act at Section 33.

In line with the operational independence of the police service, the SPPs do not direct day to day operations. However, both the Strategic and Annual Police Plans must have regard to the strategic police priorities, ensuring there is no inconsistency.

Strategic Police Plan

The Act requires the SPA to produce a Strategic Police Plan (at Section 34) which sets out the main objectives for both the SPA and Police Scotland, and describes how these objectives are expected to be achieved. The SPA involves the Chief Constable and others with an interest in policing, when developing the strategic plan, and Scottish Ministers approve it. It must be reviewed at least once every 3 years and, in particular, where the Strategic Police Priorities have been significantly revised.

Currently the Strategic Police Plan is fulfilled by the Ten Year Strategy: Serving a Changing Scotland, highlighted above. It sets out five key areas of focus:

1. Protection – Based on threat, risk and harm

2. Prevention – Tackling crime, inequality and enduring problems facing communities

3. Communities – Focus on localism, diversity and the virtual world

4. Knowledge – Informing the development of better services

5. Innovation – Dynamic, adaptable and sustainable

The Strategic Police Plan is being refreshed during 2019/20, and is due to be published in 2020. Public consultation on the draft strategic plan is due to commence later this year.

Annual Police Plan

Under the Act, the Chief Constable must prepare an Annual Police Plan. This Plan sets out the arrangements for the Policing of Scotland, and how this activity contributes to the objectives set out within the Strategic Police Plan. The current Annual Police Plan^[10] includes the following priorities for policing:

• Protecting vulnerable people
• Tackling cyber-related crime
• Working with communities
• Support for operational policing

The Plan also includes strategic outcomes, which describe the difference Police Scotland will make by addressing these priorities.

Under the Act, Police Scotland is required to consult with the SPA on the Annual Police Plan.

Copies of the Strategic Police Priorities, Strategic Police Plan and Annual Police Plan must be laid before Parliament.

Local Police Plans

Local Policing Divisions prepare Local Police Plans, which must be consistent with the most recently approved SPA Strategic Police Plan. They are closely linked into wider local planning arrangements, including Community Planning Partnerships, and contribute to Local Outcome and Improvement Plans. Local Police Plans describe the local priorities and policing arrangements in each of Scotland's 32 local authority areas. The Divisions engage with a range of local partners to develop these local plans, and they are presented to the local authority for approval.

Accountability and Performance against the SPPs

Arrangements for governance of the police service were established through the Act. The SPA has an oversight role in relation to the work of Police Scotland, and also holds the Chief Constable to account.

The SPA has a three-year financial plan and a ten year financial strategy in place, which provide high-level assessments of the financial resources required to deliver the organisation's strategic priorities, which align with the SPPs, and essential services over three and ten year periods. These financial plans were agreed by the SPA Board in May 2018, and are currently being reviewed, with refreshed plans expected to be available later in the year. The Scottish Government plans to undertake a spending review later this year, as outlined in its recently published Medium Term Financial Strategy. This will ensure that the Scottish Government can continue to meet the high standards and deliver the quality of public services that people across the country expect.

There are a number of mechanisms through which we would expect to see evidence of the impact of SPPs being achieved.

The SPA publishes an Annual Review of Policing^[11] which provides an assessment of the progress the SPA and Police Scotland have made in working towards achieving the objectives set out within the Strategic Police Plan and, in the case of Police Scotland, the Annual Police Plan.

Police Scotland provide quarterly performance reports on their Annual Police Plan to the SPA Board, measuring progress against the strategic outcomes. Police Scotland has recently introduced a new performance framework, which is outcomes-focused and will provide evidence of progress during 2019-20. The performance framework will continue to evolve and new indicators to evidence progress will be phased in during the reporting year.

Local Authorities have arrangements in place to scrutinise the delivery of local policing through Local Scrutiny Committees.

There are also a number of recorded crime statistics that are publicly reported. Police Scotland publish quarterly management information, and the Scottish Government publish National Statistics on Recorded Crime^[12] in Scotland annually. The Scottish Government also publishes National Statistics from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey^[13] annually, which includes estimates for overall crime, including those not reported to the police and further evidence on people's experiences and perceptions of crime.