Police Scotland and Scottish Government meeting: September 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs 
• Jo Farrell, Chief Constable, Police Scotland 
• Jane Connors, Deputy Chief Constable, Police Scotland  
• Don McGillivray, Director, Safer Communities, Scottish Government 
• Lynsey McKean, Police Division, Scottish Government  

Items and actions

Budget 

The Chief Constable set out the key elements of the Police Scotland budget proposal. She described a complex and evolving landscape for policing, rising operational demands, and a shifting threat environment, with pressures manifesting in workforce capacity, and frontline resilience. She reinforced the role of community policing as being central to the prevention agenda and her desire to scale up delivery models that had already been tested successfully at local level, as well as the interdependency and ecosystem of this ask. The Chief Constable also covered the threat, harm and risk in key areas; online harm, serious and organised crime and counter terrorism.

The Chief Constable set out the budgetary support required to enable Police Scotland to meet current and future challenges. The Cabinet Secretary provided an overview of the Scottish budgetary context, reflecting on the implications of the UK spending review for Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary noted the strategic direction set out by the Chief Constable, particularly around proposals to balance the visibility and responsiveness of officers, with specialist capability. She noted the importance of the work of Police Scotland in the preventative space, noting its critical role in supporting broader outcomes.  

Protests 

DCC Connors set out the ongoing and increasing pressures arising from protest activity. Such events are becoming a persistent feature, with sustained demand on policing resources. The increase in protest activity is not a short-term trend, but part of a broader pattern influenced by public debate and international developments, resulting in year on year increases in activity. Discussion took place on Police Scotland’s engagement in areas hosting asylum accommodation and on relevant Home Office initiatives. DCC Connors set out how Police Scotland maintains strong relationships with relevant local authorities and with communities to support cohesion and public safety.  

Sex and Gender 

The Chief Constable set out work being undertaken within Police Scotland following the Supreme Court judgement, including on search and staff facilities. She has been invited to attend the Public Petitions Committee on this matter.  

The Cabinet Secretary spoke to the work underway to revise the stop and search code of practice. Officials have convened a short life working group comprising key stakeholders to help review and re-draft the code in preparation for public consultation in the coming months.  

Mental Health and Policing

The Chief Constable and Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the submission of the Partnership Delivery Group’s Mental Health and Policing six-month progress report to the SPA’s Policing and Performance Committee on 16 September. The Chief Constable welcomed the momentum and ambition driving this work, including the development of a safe space facility for Glasgow. While there are strong partnerships and examples of good practice in some areas, achieving consistent, nationwide improvement at pace remains a challenge. The coming year will focus on engaging with health boards and local authorities to fully realise the ambitions set out in the Framework for Collaboration. 

Live Facial Recognition 

The Chief Constable briefed the Cabinet Secretary on her recent update to the SPA Policing and Performance Committee regarding Live Facial Recognition. The Cabinet Secretary emphasised the need for clear public information about the technology’s purpose and safeguards and highlighted the importance of extensive consultation and a careful, phased approach to its introduction, supported by robust legal frameworks. The discussion also addressed the need to ensure the technology is used in a targeted way, with particular attention to equalities considerations and the importance of a clear, transparent narrative.