Police Scotland urged to end 'non-attendance policies' as part of wider reforms

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) said "phone-first" responses simply encourage escalation and entrench criminality.

The call forms part of its manifesto ahead of the Holyrood election in May, setting out its blueprint to rebuild frontline services and reconnect policing with communities.

The SPF set out six key reforms it wants the next Scottish government to adopt, which will be presented to politicians at a special conference in Edinburgh in February.

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It argues for annual investment “at least in line with inflation” as well as “direct, statutory involvement in funding core policing” for councils.

It also calls for the creation of three area deputy chief constables for the north, east and west, based locally and appointed with council approval.

One of the biggest reforms the SPF wants is an end to ‘non-attendance’ policies, which it describes as incidents which are resolved without an officer physically attending the scene.

The manifesto says: “‘Phone-first’ responses tell communities their concerns don’t matter. Non-attendance encourages escalation and entrenches criminality.

“Attendance is not merely symbolic; it is preventative. The act of showing up – to reassure, to gather intelligence, to solve problems early – saves time and reduces harm downstream.

“Reversing non-attendance policies should be resourced with staffing and supported by triage that prioritises vulnerability and repeat harm.”

Elsewhere, the SPF argues officer safety must be “non-negotiable”, and advocates equipping every officer with a taser, reducing single-crewing and ensuring consistent sentencing when officers are assaulted.

It also urges a “reset” in the relationship between policing and politics, with pay and conditions reflecting the “demands placed on officers to protect recruitment, retention, and capability”.

And it calls for ring-fenced funding for psychological assistance and the “embedding of psychological safety across Police Scotland”.

The SPF manifesto says the six reforms are a “credible, practical roadmap for restoring policing in Scotland”.

It says the proposals “are rooted in operational experience, informed by the voices of more than 16,500 officers, and designed to ensure that Scotland’s communities receive the safety, presence and protection they deserve – delivered by officers who are equipped, valued, and supported to serve”.