New joint equality outcomes published
Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) have developed a new set of joint equality outcomes that will help ensure policing better represents, reflects and serves our communities as we build and maintain our bond of trust with the public.
The Joint Equality Outcomes for Policing (2025 to 2029) have been developed following extensive internal and external engagement and a comprehensive review of a variety of evidence sources such as the 2024 workforce survey and equality and diversity workforce monitoring data.
Producing equality outcomes at least every four years is part of our duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the new outcomes published today will provide a refreshed focus for the work which both organisations already have under way in this area.
Our equality outcomes align with Police Scotland and the SPAs strategic objectives including our 2030 vision, the Policing Together Strategy and the SPA Corporate Plan.
There are seven equality outcomes covering both equality in employment and in service delivery:
- Equality outcome 1 - Reporting crime and community concerns confidence and support
By 2029, minoritised communities will have greater confidence to report crime and community concerns. - Equality outcome 2 – Accessibility of services and communications
By 2029, people will have improved access to information and be able to communicate with us in ways that meet their diverse needs. - Equality outcome 3 - Meaningful engagement
By 2029, we will have improved engagement with our communities, using their insights and experience to shape how best to deliver services and work with partners to keep people safe. - Equality outcome 4 - Violence against women and girls
By 2029, we will have supported societal change in ending Violence against Women and Girls, support those at risk of becoming victims of violence, and those facing violence are safer and confident that the police will be responsive to their needs. - Equality outcome 5 - Representation and colleague voice
By 2029, minoritised groups are better represented in policing, have an improved colleague voice and our decisions are informed by relevant workforce data and insights. - Equality outcome 6 - Leadership and colleague experience
By 2029, colleagues from minoritised groups have an improved colleague experience through the enhanced equality, diversity and inclusion knowledge, skills and behaviours of our people leaders. - Equality outcome 7 – Colleague support
By 2029, colleagues from minoritised groups have their needs met more proactively through improved accessibility, technology, equipment, facilities and family friendly provisions.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “The relationship we have with the public we serve, our fellow citizens, is the foundation of police legitimacy and vital to our ability to keep people safe. The onus is on policing to earn and maintain the trust of all communities and ensure we are delivering a service which is for everyone.
“We remain committed to driving sustainable and meaningful change to ensure equality and diversity lies at the heart of policing, and that we are meeting the needs of all our officers and staff and the communities we serve.”
Fiona McQueen, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority said: "These outcomes set out how policing will seek to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations with our workforce and the communities policing serves."
The published documents can be viewed here.
