Local authority leaders in Scotland have agreed four key priority areas to strengthen collaboration between local government and policing.

The priority areas outlined in the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) are: local scrutiny and accountability, prevention and early intervention, health and wellbeing, and resource and investment.

Cllr Shona Morrison, COSLA president, said: ‘Local government and policing share the pivotal functions of serving, protecting and enhancing our local communities. The Partnership Agreement I co-signed with Cllr Maureen Chalmers, COSLA Community Wellbeing spokesperson, on behalf of all local authority leaders represents a significant milestone in COSLA’s commitment to partnership working with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.

‘As we recover from the pandemic and navigate the current cost of living crisis, it is more important than ever for local government to maximise collaboration with our partners at both national and local level. This Partnership Agreement is an excellent example of this. I very much look forward to working with Police Scotland and the SPA to deliver on the shared commitments we have set out in the document.’

Martyn Evans, chair of the Scottish Police Authority said: ‘The authority is committed to working collaboratively with Police Scotland and COSLA on our collective purpose of serving, protecting and enhancing local communities.

‘This important Agreement describes our shared commitments to local scrutiny and accountability; prevention and early intervention; health and wellbeing; and resource and investment. We look forward to this new phase of collaboration in the years ahead.’