“ASPS notes the detailed findings of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary’s annual report for 2024/25 and welcomes Mr Naylor’s observations on the potential benefits and opportunities to fight organised crime through the extension of the Home Office’s Asset Recovery Incentivisation Schemes to Scotland. Serious and organised crime gangs operate across policing boundaries throughout the United Kingdom, and monies seized from those gangs could do much to assist Police Scotland’s operational capabilities to disrupt and catch those criminals whose wanton offending is a blight on our communities.
“Further, we welcome Mr Naylor’s observations that, “The reform journey cannot simply be a further reduction of capability and capacity within policing” and we would add that the evolution of Police Scotland is dependent upon a sustained commitment by Scottish Government to invest back into policing a fair portion of the £300M that the police reform programme has returned year-on-year to the Exchequer. This includes investment in new estate best located to serve urban, suburban and rural communities, new technologies to improve public contact and specialist resources to tackle policing priorities such as cybercrime and road safety, as well as investing in Policing for Our Communities, putting constables and sergeants back into community policing teams.”
Stewart Carle
General Secretary
Association of Scottish Police Superintendents