Public consultation to help shape future of policing

The draft strategy was launched on Monday, February 27 by Andrew Flanagan, chairman of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), and Chief Constable Phil Gormley.

The publication of Policing 2026 signals the start of a landmark countrywide consultation, devised to ensure as many voices as possible are heard to help the SPA and Police Scotland design services to keep people safe over the next decade. The consultation will run for 10 weeks and will help refine and inform the strategy.

The strategy will chart the next phase in the transformation of policing in Scotland. It will create a workforce of police officers and staff who are focused on where they can add most value to the mission of protecting and serving the public. It will see technology and new ways of working releasing greater productivity and more time tackling crime and addressing issues around vulnerability. The workforce mix will evolve as new skills and capabilities are developed to tackle the emerging challenges revealed in the 2026 strategy.

Fife Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Colin Gall said: “Policing has undergone major change in recent years with the transition to a single service.

“Despite the scale of the change, the most significant in policing in more than a generation, communities in Fife have continued to benefit from a service which has performed strongly through the activity of local, regional and national resources.

“However, our communities continue to diversify and grow, and the needs of people in society are changing. Demands on policing are growing as the world around us changes at a rapid pace. In order to meet the evolving needs of all our communities we must also continue to change. The draft strategy sets out why we must change, what will change and how we will make the change happen - however your help is required to ensure that the final strategy accurately reflects the needs of our community.

“Developing our approach in five key areas of activity will drive the transformation:

• Prevention – tackling crime, inequality and critical problems facing communities

• Protection – based on threat, risk and harm

• Communities – focused on localism, diversity and the virtual world

• Knowledge – informing the development of better services

• Innovation – becoming a dynamic, adaptable and sustainable service”

The full strategy document can be found at www.scotland.police.uk/policing2026

Chief Inspector Kevin Woods who is leading on the consultation within Fife, echoed Chief Superintendent Gall’s comments, encouraging local people to get involved.

He said: “Policing in Fife has a long and successful record of adapting to the changing demands and needs of local people and communities. We are now undertaking consultation on our proposed 10 year strategy, developed collaboratively by the SPA and Police Scotland, to ensure that Scottish policing remains fit for the future.

“We as an organisation do not have all the answers and need your help. Through this consultation we are asking for everyone to provide their views on the approach outlined in the draft strategy.

“I would urge as many people as possible in Fife to grasp the opportunity to influence the future of policing by taking time to complete the online questionnaire which can be found at https://consult.scotland.police.uk/consultation/2026.”

The consultation period will be open until May 8.