Chief Superintendent Kenny MacDonald: Help us to help you on strategy

Chief Superintendent Kenny MacDonald. Picture: Ian Georgeson

I need your help with the former and latter. The draft 2026 Policing Strategy sets out how policing services should be delivered as we move through the next decade.

We are four weeks into a ten-week consultation period, where people can view the strategy online and let Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority know their thoughts.

It is vital that we capture the opinions of all our communities across Edinburgh. The world we live in and operate in is changing and we need to know how you want to access policing and how our services can best support you in the future.

The draft strategy is exactly that. It is published so that it can be considered and shaped by you, who will use and sometimes rely on the service we provide. I cannot stress enough how important it is to get as many views as possible as this will be the template for policing your country, your Capital. The partners we work with every day are all involved in reviewing the plan and giving their comments, and every individual thought and opinion will be taken into consideration.

You can access the consultation and take your chance to influence the future of policing by completing the online questionnaire at https://consult.scotland.police.uk/consultation/2026.

So before the consultation closes, we will be looking an hour ahead when the clocks change on Sunday morning. Spring does seem to be taking root despite the snow – and this is the ideal time to review your security arrangements.

If you’re getting out into the garden, I would urge you not to be complacent – make sure you keep your outbuildings secure, don’t leave valuable tools and equipment lying around and make sure they can’t be seen inside your shed or garage. While you are enjoying the great outdoors as the weather starts to warm up, make sure your doors and windows are locked too, so no-one can slip in while your back is turned.

If you’re dusting off your motorbike or bicycle, do a bit of basic maintenance to make sure it’s fit for the road and check you have a sturdy lock to take with you on your travels.

These things all take a matter of minutes but could save you a visit from my officers, an insurance claim and a lot of upset when instead you could be out enjoying everything Edinburgh has to offer.

Chief Superintendent Kenny MacDonald is divisional commander for Edinburgh