This is my first column since I took up post as divisional commander for Greater Glasgow almost two years ago.

I am proud to serve our communities and I hope this column gives you an insight into some of the work under way by local officers as we work tirelessly with partners to improve your safety and wellbeing.

Policing is a relentless but hugely rewarding vocation which the last two years have thrown new light on. My arrival coincided with some of the biggest challenges policing has seen in a generation as we supported the public health emergency caused by the outbreak of Covid-19.

At the same time, we had to plan and deliver large scale events while we prepared for COP26 and managed protests like Black Lives Matter, anti-vax and football-related gatherings.

I have learned a lot in these last two years, as has policing as it evolves to protect the most vulnerable among us and improve the experiences of all our communities.

Policing must continue to be based on public consent and what unites all officers within Police Scotland are our shared values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to uphold human rights.

Our values are at the heart of all we do. We embed them in our training, our operational delivery, our exchanges with each other and communities, and in our recruitment process. They drive our policing strategies and our decisions and you can always be assured these are front and centre of any contact you have with us.

I see every day how diverse and compassionate our communities are and I see every day the commitment and professionalism from officers as they interact with those of you who visit, live and work in this vibrant city and its surrounding areas.

In each of those interactions officers know they are policing with your consent and I hope the contact you have with us helps to build confidence and trust in our ability to keep you safe.

Policing will forever have an important role in enforcement and this will always be necessary to ensure public safety but, in a changing and modern society, where more of our work is focused on vulnerability, we have been renewing our approach.

Every day, all public services deal with a minority of people who, through poor health, life chances and choices, find themselves in the criminal justice system. They are often vulnerable as a consequence of poor mental health, addiction and other chronic public health issues.

It is against this backdrop, and our learning from policing during the pandemic, that Police Scotland introduced our public health approach to policing and is why I am embedding this across Greater Glasgow.

Our aim is to demonstrate a long-term commitment to strengthen and support partners to collectively improve the health outcomes of our communities and ultimately reduce their chances of criminal behaviour and experience with the criminal justice system.

We are all familiar with Greater Glasgow, its wonderful assets, its ability to modernise and accommodate the changing needs of its communities. We are a proud city and a hospitable bunch but despite the modernisation and regeneration, we still have too many people living in deprivation and poverty.

Policing will continue to be robust where the need is appropriate and proportionate, but it will also be compassionate and prevention-focused, signposting people to the right agencies for support.

This is why we have redefined our relationships with key partners like the Health and Social Care Partnerships and developed new ones with Public Health Scotland.

The National Records of Scotland published the most recent data of Scotland’s drugs-related deaths. Every life lost is a tragedy and in Greater Glasgow and Clyde we have seen the largest increase in drug misuse death rates over time: from 8.9 per 100,000 of the population in 2000-2004 to 33.7 per 100,000 in 2017-2021.

With our partners, I am committed to reversing that trend through our renewed approach to policing to drive forward positive change for our city’s most vulnerable citizens.

Like most aspects of society, Glasgow city centre has changed throughout the pandemic and we are dedicated to supporting its recovery, ensuring it is a safe and welcoming venue for all.

I have seen and continue to see a lot of negative commentary about young people who use the city centre and, while large groups can seem intimidating, we should be clear that the vast majority of youths are there to socialise, shop and enjoy all the city has to offer.

We must be careful not to criminalise our young people who are themselves maturing and finding a new normality post-pandemic.

There are of course a minority who cause unacceptable levels of antisocial behaviour and at times even violence. We continue to work with key partners, including the local authority, to minimise the impact of this minority and to support local businesses.

Policing in Scotland is in a strong and stable position after the early years of change and reform. We have delivered significant savings in line with Government and public expectations but only continued investment will allow us to keep pace with the challenges ahead and to support a society likely to see discontent as financial and social pressures bite over the coming months.

We are often the service of first and last resort and that is something we must be proud of and continue to deliver. Where there is a need for policing, we must be there. But that should be bolstered by continued investment and support to modernise and shape our service to meet public demands.

Locally there are huge challenges ahead for Greater Glasgow and wider society as the cost-of-living crisis places everyone in a position where they will need to make difficult choices, for some that will sadly mean choosing between heating and food.

Our public health approach to policing will have a role to play in supporting communities through this difficult period - a compassionate and cohesive partnership approach across Greater Glasgow will be more crucial than ever and I am committed to achieving that.

Heading into autumn, I am very much looking forward to the next few months in this city which never stands still.

Your local policing plans for the next three years are being developed so you could really make a meaningful contribution to them by engaging with us on your priorities through the ‘your police’ survey which is available on our website.

In the meantime, please remember we are part of your community. Stop and say hello to us, tell us what matters to you and how we can be of assistance.