Chief Constable Jo Farrell today met with the family of Sheku Bayoh to underline Police Scotland’s support for his relatives and the wider Public Inquiry into his death.
The Chief Constable pledged that Police Scotland remained fully committed to assisting the Chair to discharge the Inquiry’s terms of reference and that the Service would address any recommendations made.
The private meeting in Glasgow was also a chance for the Chief Constable to build on Police Scotland’s relationship with the Bayoh family and highlight the anti-racism work being carried out to improve policing in Scotland.
Chief Constable Farrell said: “I very much welcomed the opportunity to meet with the family of Sheku Bayoh and listen to their concerns.
“I took the opportunity to express my personal condolences and reiterated those of the service. I am very aware of the significant impact his death had on his family, friends, the wider community of Kirkcaldy and beyond, and serving and retired officers.
“This meeting also allowed me to underline Police Scotland’s commitment to participate in every aspect of the Public Inquiry and to positively assist the Chair in discharging the terms of reference.
“Meeting directly with the family also allowed me the opportunity to highlight the extensive work ongoing under the Policing Together programme to drive a culture change towards becoming an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory service which better reflects and represents the communities we serve.”
“I repeated the assurances that both myself and the senior leadership of Police Scotland are absolutely committed to driving this work forward with a very clear determination to address any recommendations made by the Inquiry.”
Police Scotland has confirmed plans to dispose of three police stations in East Lothian: Prestonpans, Dunbar and North Berwick.
On 23 August, 2024, Police Scotland launched public consultations on the disposal of the stations. The changes are part of Police Scotland’s Estates Masterplan, a comprehensive and prioritised ten-year programme focused on building improvements, refurbishments and disposals to create a modern fit for purpose estate that better fits communities and the workforce.
Prestonpans, North Berwick and Dunbar stations were constructed before 1950, designed to meet the needs of policing at that time. They no longer meet the demands or requirements of modern policing and are not sufficiently flexible to adapt for how policing may be delivered in the future.
Prestonpans police station has been unused since early 2023, with local community officers operating from Tranent. North Berwick and Dunbar stations are staffed by a small number of officers and staff and public attendance at the sites is low.
Chief Inspector Ben Leathes said: “Disposing of a building does not mean there will be a withdrawal of service from the area.
“This decision will not impact local policing services in East Lothian. Our officers will continue to respond to incidents and support the local areas as they do now. We will maintain a visible presence and provide a high quality service to the communities we serve.
“We recognise that the visibility of our officers is important to the community, which is why we have been setting up touch points in various local areas that the public are using to increase accessibility.
“Our officers have been available at Dunbar Garden Centre and Tesco stores in North Berwick, providing opportunities for the public to engage with them directly and ask any questions.
“We aim to make these sessions a regular part of local service, alongside our Coffee with Cop initiative. Details of all upcoming events will be shared across our social media platforms.
“I realise that for many the physical presence of a police station has provided reassurance and confidence over the years. However, our presence in communities is not defined by buildings but by the officers and staff who work in the area.
“Historically, having multiple stations in such a close proximity was a benefit as officers didn’t have modern technology. The need for separate physical buildings has reduced, officers are now fully mobile with investment in fleet and mobile phones, allowing them to patrol and respond effectively without relying on a physical building.
“Prestonpans and Tranent are two miles apart, and it is simply not necessary for us to maintain two buildings in such close proximity. Maintaining underused buildings is not financially sustainable and by merging resources, we can focus on delivering effective policing services rather than retaining surplus buildings.
“North Berwick and Dunbar police stations are staffed by a small number of officers and staff who will be relocated to Haddington. This move aligns with our policing plan, which has been in place for the past 10 years. Under that plan, response officers covering North Berwick and Dunbar are already based in Haddington, meaning there will be no change in how incidents are responded to or in the level of service provided to the community.”
Haddington police station front counter is open from 8.40am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Tranent police station front counter is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Wednesday.
For non-emergencies and general enquiries, can call 101, and 999 in the event of an emergency. If you are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or cannot communicate via speech you can utilise the text relay service on 18001101.
For emergencies British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us by using 999 BSL. For non-emergencies BSL users can use Contact Scotland BSL. Both these sites are free to use.
Chief Constable public update to the Scottish Police Authority
Chief Constable Jo Farrell today said the service is reviewing its recruitment plans as part of savings to cover potential additional National Insurance costs in 2025-26.
Speaking at a Scottish Police Authority Board meeting in Glasgow, Chief Constable Farrell said that, following a planned officer intake in March, recruitment would require to be reduced during the coming financial year if additional costs, totalling £25.3m, were not fully funded.
Chief Constable Farrell said: “We remain in close and constructive discussions with the Scottish Government, including this week, and the current indication is we will be supported with 50 per cent of the costs.
“I previously welcomed their budget proposals, which enabled us to progress the vision and business plan, which was endorsed by the Authority, while also maintaining our workforce.
“At the same time, I was explicit that additional employer National Insurance costs facing Police Scotland in 2025-26, following an announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in October, should be met in full.
“Through hard reform already achieved, including large workforce reductions, policing in Scotland has removed over £200m from the annual cost base compared to legacy arrangements, while protecting and improving service.
“Our efficiency means over 86 per cent of our revenue costs is spent on workforce pay.
“Policing in Scotland’s record of fiscal discipline and rigour has been an important component of stability and credibility in recent years and delivering a balanced budget is a priority for me.
“The 2025-26 budget for policing is very challenging, and already includes a requirement to achieve £9m of efficiencies.
“We must also anticipate pay award costs and further costs associated with the Public Inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh.
“There are very few levers to achieve further savings, other than reducing the workforce.
“As outlined in my report, we are committed to another recruitment intake next month, but we are reviewing our recruitment profile for the coming financial year.
“My commitment to ongoing reform is evidenced through our 2030 vision and our three year business plan. We are turning over every rock to achieve further efficiencies to build an effective and sustainable operating model which delivers for communities.
“Constraints on funding will slow the progress of work that’s started and which is planned.”
Read the Chief’s update in full:
The disruption and devastating effects of Storm Eowyn continue to be felt by communities across Scotland, including the tragic death of 19-year-old Calum Carmichael in Ayrshire.
During the storm, police officers, staff and volunteers, demonstrated professionalism and bravery to ensure policing played its important part in the emergency response, along with blue light partners, the Scottish Government, local authorities, health colleagues, SEPA, the third sector, and others.
I want to thank everyone who contributed to efforts to preserve life and support those affected by the adverse weather.
Chair, your report outlines discussions last month with Councillors Shona Morrison and Maureen Chalmers, respectively the president and community wellbeing spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
The meeting was an important opportunity to identify and pursue collaborative approaches to delivering for communities and improving people’s lives.
At the same time, the joint response during the storm underlined that strong and vital relationships are maintained at strategic and operational levels.
I greatly value the scrutiny of, and support for, policing which councils and councillors right across Scotland undertake every day.
Returning to my report, I outline the policing response to the horrific murder of six-year-old Hope Gordon. Hope’s murder is a shocking and deeply upsetting crime and utterly devastating for the families involved. My thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone at Police Scotland, are with Hope’s loved ones.
Such a tragedy also has a wider effect on the local community in West Calder, as well as across Scotland, including for the officers and staff who responded and I’m grateful for their support and co-operation as enquiries continue.
I highlight the search for Henrietta and Eliza Huszti, which sadly concluded with the discovery of their bodies and I offer their family my condolences.
Since my last report, there have been a number of important court outcomes following police investigations, some of which I outline in this update. These include the life sentence of 41-year-old Finlay MacDonald for murder and attempted murders on Skye and in Wester Ross in August 2022 and the conviction and sentencing of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenders.
I also highlight a County Lines intensification week which ended in December and during which officers made 81 arrests, safeguarded 66 vulnerable people and seized illegal drugs, cash and offensive weapons during a crackdown on drug dealers who exploit vulnerable young people.
My report details the results of our campaign of enforcement, education, and communication around drink and drug driving. Officers engaged with more than 25,000 drivers and detected over 1,300 offences as policing plays our part in a crucial partnership approach to reducing road fatalities and injuries.
It’s a very clear message. Do not drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs. If you know someone who is going to drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, please speak to them and contact police if appropriate. Officers are on our road networks day in, day out and we relentlessly target offenders.
The breadth of police work described, from multi-agency emergency responses, major investigations and action to reduce harm and safeguard the vulnerable underlines the diverse and often challenging nature of policing and the huge value our officers, staff and volunteers deliver right across Scotland, every day.
Next week, we’ll pause to recognise and celebrate some of the incredible work of police officers, staff, and volunteers, as well as the contribution of members of the public who stepped forward at times of crisis, during our annual Bravery and Excellence Awards.
Reading the nominations has been a great privilege and a powerful experience. I am continually blown away by the professionalism, skill and dedication of our people and I greatly look forward to congratulating and thanking nominees and winners in person.
The great value of policing must be for all communities. People from all communities must know that when the police talk about keeping people safe, we mean them. All communities must feel able to speak to the police, to report a crime, share information or consider policing as a career.
This month, we’ve been recognising and celebrating important milestones as part of our Policing Together programme, including Race Equality Week and LGBT History Month, and during Race Equality week, the Force Executive participated in an anti-racist learning session to continue and lead Police Scotland’s learning in this important area.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton continues to develop the Policing Together programme through face-to-face learning and enhanced community engagement to put Policing Together into practice.
I want to thank DCC Alan Speirs, ACC Catriona Paton and others right across the organisation for their work, and reaffirm my commitment to building an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory, Service which serves all our communities, inside policing and across society.
As a Service, we are engaged with UK policing to share our experience and understand how others are responding to this legal and ethical duty
Policing Together is an important programme in delivering on our vision of safer communities, less crime, supported victims and a thriving workforce.
As we progress to 2025-26, we will enter year two of our first three-year business plan, which outlines the milestones we’ll prioritise to help realise our ambitions.
The vision and business plan consciously prioritises the frontline to support officers, staff and volunteers to deliver for our communities.
Of course, a key element of that support is securing the resources required to provide effective policing and we continue to monitor developments on the funding allocation available for 2025-26.
My report outlines that in January, our latest intake of 124 probationary constables maintained our officer establishment at just over 16,600. A further intake of officers is planned for March, which will continue to maintain officer numbers.
When the Scottish Budget proposals were announced in December, I welcomed the continued support for the second phase of police reform which enables policing to maintain a maximum officer establishment of 16,600 while we develop a sustainable and effective operating model and a modernised workforce.
I was also clear that a key component of that position was the requirement that over £25m of additional National Insurances costs are fully funded – this continues to be the case.
Workforce pay in Police Scotland accounts for over 86 per cent of our revenue spend, meaning there are very few levers to reduce costs other than through workforce numbers.
The uncertainty also underlines the ongoing challenge of recruitment planning without multi-year funding allocations.
Lastly, I provide updates on pay awards, including agreement on a headline 4.75% police staff offer and the decision to award police officers a 4.75% uplift to pay and relevant allowances following independent arbitration.
As illustrated throughout my report, police officers, staff and volunteers deliver huge service and value for our communities day in, day out. I am grateful for their skill, dedication and goodwill.
National Insurance costs
The matter of additional employer National Insurance costs could have an impact on progressing the next phase of police reform.
We remain in close and constructive discussions with the Scottish Government, including this week, and the current indication is we will be supported with 50 per cent of the costs.
I previously welcomed their budget proposals, which enabled us to progress the vision and business plan, which was endorsed by the Authority, while also maintaining our workforce.
At the same time, I was explicit that additional employer National Insurance costs facing Police Scotland in 2025-26, following an announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in October, should be met in full.
Through hard reform already achieved, including large workforce reductions, policing in Scotland has removed over £200m from the annual cost base compared to legacy arrangements, while continuing to protect and improve the service.
Our efficiency means over 86 per cent of our revenue costs is spent on workforce pay.
Policing in Scotland’s record of fiscal discipline and rigour has been an important component of stability and credibility in recent years and delivering a balanced budget is a priority for me.
The 2025-26 budget for policing is very challenging, and already includes a requirement to achieve £9m of efficiencies.
We must also anticipate pay award costs and further costs associated with the Public Inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh.
There are very few levers to achieve further savings, other than reducing the workforce.
As outlined in my report, we are committed to another recruitment intake next month, but we are reviewing our recruitment profile for the coming financial year.
My commitment to ongoing reform is evidenced through our 2030 vision and our 3 year business plan. We are turning over every rock to achieve further efficiencies to build an effective and sustainable operating model which delivers for communities.
Constraints on funding will slow the progress of work that’s started and which is planned.
As we come toward the end of the first year of our three-year business plan, we are making improvements and efficiencies for policing, including:
Driving improvements across criminal justice to deliver quicker and better outcomes for victims and witnesses and targeting resources to focus on the most serious and harmful offending.
Making changes to provide those in mental health crisis or distress the help they need and deserve from the right agency, while allowing police officers to return to core duties more quickly.
A strategic approach to which police buildings should be kept, improved, sold and built to share more spaces with partners and give our workforce better accommodation.
2025-26 is the second year of the business plan and we have been clear what we want to achieve, while also underlining the need for financial support.
This includes:
Further developing our strengthened community policing model to provide identifiable officers to local areas.
The establishment of a new cyber fraud command to tackle online crime and better support victims.
Invest in, and use of data and new technology, including artificial intelligence, to provide better systems for officers and staff, achieve efficiencies and develop further ways of targeting high harm offenders.
Continue to modernise our workforce through the right investment in non-warranted support to release officers to the frontline.
With partners planning the delivery of a safe and secure Commonwealth Games for 2026
I would also underline my desire to explore more flexibility in policing finances, for example certainty through multi-year settlements, exercising our borrowing powers and a mechanism to carry forward reserves all of which would greatly assist in longer-term strategic planning, decision making and best use of public money.
As Chief Constable ensuring Scotland continues to be a safe place to live and work is my commitment and priority.
POLICE are appealing for information after a man had his bike stolen in Edinburgh on Friday (14 February 2025).
Around 5.25pm, the 33-year-old man was walking through Telfer subway underpass when he was approached by another man who verbally threatened him and stole his bike.
The suspect is in his early 20s, around 5ft. 10 inches in height, with an average build. He was wearing a grey/blue coloured tracksuit with grey and white coloured footwear.
The male had his hood up and was concealing his face with a black face covering. He was also carrying a grey shoulder bag.
The suspect cycled over the Western Approach Road towards Dalry.
The bike is a yellow, Canyon Speedmax CF8, with all black wheels.
Officers are continuing to review relevant CCTV images from in and around the area for any additional details.
Detective Constable Lindsay Johnston said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the theft to think back and consider if they saw anything suspicious or perhaps saw the suspect on the bike.
“I would also ask anyone with dash-cam equipment to check their images as they could have captured footage with could assist us in identifying the suspect.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 2667 of 14 February, 2025. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and give your information anonymously.
It is where criminals threaten to share nude or semi-nude photographs of their victim if money is not paid or if the victim does not comply with some other harmful demand.
A 36-year-old man has been sentenced after an attempted murder in Edinburgh in 2023.
Terence Reilly was arrested and charged after the attack on a 63-year-old man in Loaning Road on Sunday, 6 August, 2023.
He was jailed for eight years at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday – Thursday, 13 February, 2025.
He was found guilty of assault to severe injury, endangerment to life and attempted murder at the same court on Thursday, 16 January, 2025.
Detective Sergeant Sophie McWhinnie said: “This was a random attack on a stranger and Reilly now faces the consequences of his violent actions.
“His victim played a vital role in achieving this outcome and I would like to thank him for his support and hope that he can now begin to move on from this experience.
“Violence and endangering the lives of others will not be tolerated and we will rigorously pursue those responsible of such crimes and ensure they are brought to justice.
“We would like to thank the community for their assistance with this enquiry, particularly those who stopped at the time to help.”
An Edinburgh man has been sentenced to 44 months in prison for explosives offences and possession of incident images of children.
Ryan O’Donnell, 37 was sentenced yesterday, Wednesday, 12 February, 2025, at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Mixed powders, including potassium nitrate, were found at his home address in Edinburgh, as well as equipment that could be used to make homemade explosives.
He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years for possession of almost 1500 images of children.
Detective Sergeant Jordan Sharp said: “The substances O’Donnell possessed were dangerous and could have caused serious harm if they had been used.
“The unlicenced manufacturing of homemade explosives is illegal, irrespective of the intention, and places the public at risk.
“He will also face the consequences of his actions for possessing indecent images of children. Sexual exploitation is despicable, and we remain committed to protecting children.
“We have highly trained, specialist officers, across the country who can investigate such offences and, working with partners, ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”
RAC warns actions of a few are putting other road users at serious risk
NPCC roads policing lead: “We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe”
Almost half of UK police forces (48%) have caught motorists driving over 90mph on 30mph roads – more than three times the speed limit, new data analysed by the RAC has revealed.*
A Freedom of Information request to the UK’s 45 police forces also found that, of the 40 with data, almost all (90%) had clocked people driving at 60mph – more than twice the limit – on these roads.
With the highest recorded speed on any road being 167mph on a 70mph stretch of the M1 by Leicestershire Police, the new RAC study paints an alarming picture of the speeds some motorists have been caught driving at.
Looking at the largest difference between the speed recorded and the posted limit, the highest logged speed was 161mph on a 50mph eastbound stretch of the A303 in Somerset.
More than half of police forces (23, or 58%) recorded drivers travelling in excess of 140mph. While most of these contraventions were on 70mph motorway stretches, this wasn’t always the case. South Yorkshire Police clocked a driver at 146mph on a 50mph southbound stretch of the M1, while Police Scotland detected someone driving at 148mph on a 60mph section of the A68 in the Scottish Borders.
But perhaps most disturbing of all are the speeds some people are prepared to drive at on 20mph and 30mph roads – those that are far more likely to have high numbers of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users using them.
South Yorkshire Police recorded a speed of 122mph on a 30mph road, while North Wales Police logged a vehicle being driven at 88mph on a 20mph road. Both speeds are more than four times faster than the speed limits.
In total, six-in-10 police forces (24) have caught motorists driving over twice the speed limit on 20mph roads, with seven recording speeds of more than 60mph.
Government data shows speed is the biggest factor reported in fatal road collisions – it is a factor in 58% of fatalities, and in 43% of road collisions of all severities. In 2023 speed contributed to 888 fatalities, and 39,882 collisions of all severities.**
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Although this data is a snapshot, it shines a light on the incredibly dangerous actions of a few, that are putting law-abiding road users at serious risk. Thankfully, the police were on hand to catch these drivers.
“There is no place for the vastly excessive speeds that some people are prepared to drive. While some speeds were recorded in the middle of the night when traffic will have been lighter, this isn’t always the case – some of the fastest drivers were clocked at other times of day when they’d have been sharing the roads with many others.
“Speed is the leading cause of deaths on UK roads. We look forward to the Government’s forthcoming road safety strategy understanding what can be done to reduce such avoidable casualties on the UK’s roads.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: “We know that some incidents of going over the speed limit can be genuine mistakes or errors but the speeds cited here are clearly drivers taking deliberate decisions to travel at excessive speeds, putting everyone at risk.
“Speed limits are set based on many factors including the road layout, what’s in the surrounding area and taking into account where there might be more vulnerable road users. Choosing to drive above those limits is reckless, selfish and completely unacceptable.
“We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe and do whatever we can to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads each day.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “One life lost on our roads is one too many and that’s why I’m committed to Vision Zero. No more deaths on our roads.
“Too many people are being killed or seriously injured and we need to act now. I’ve launched a Road Safety Action Plan and appointed the UK’s first dedicated road safety commissioner, Mat MacDonald, to make sure communities’ voices are heard and real action is taken to prevent more tragedies on our roads.”
The RAC’s study on speeding – one of the so-called ‘Fatal Four’ behaviours that cause most fatal collisions on the roads*** – follows its earlier work in January that identified a culture of speeding among some drivers in the UK.
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