Indicators of Integration ‘New Scots’ strategy Alison Strang, QMU & Paul Matheson, Police Scotland and the ‘New Scots’ strategy Photo by Karen Gordon

UK Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999 “Integration is a chaotic concept: a word used by many but understood differently by most” (Robinson 1998) UK Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999 … introduces the ‘dispersal policy’ resulting in the arrival of asylum seekers in cities such as Glasgow across the UK.

Indicators of Integration Ager & Strang, 2004 & 2008

Needs of Dispersed Asylum Seekers Community and social connections Needs of Dispersed Asylum Seekers

‘New Scots’, Refugee Integration and Police Scotland Paul Matheson, Equality & Diversity Advisor

Community Safety in ‘New Scots’ ‘New Scots’ strategy had 6 thematic groups. Community Safety was included as a strand within the ‘Communities & Social Connections’ thematic group.

Communities & Social Connections group had 4 ‘outcomes’ Refugees are enabled to build social relationships and are involved and active in local communities. Refugees live in communities that are safe, cohesive and, as a result, are welcoming. Refugees engage in cultural activities & Scottish cultural life reflects the diversity of Scotland. Communities across Scotland have a better understanding of refugees & asylum seekers

New Scots work by Police & partners Community engagement includes refugees. Training those in high-impact roles for Police–refugee community relations. Recruitment includes refugee communities. Gender-Based Violence: knowledge, skillsets, sensitive communications around Human Trafficking, FGM, HBV.

Learning from 1st New Scots strategy Police’s educational, supportive role best done in partnership with other agencies: Guide to Scots Law in 11 languages; Supporting refugees to sit their driving test. Police enforcement role tangential to community cohesion (cf. Morrow Report): ‘Fear’ appears in refugee consultation feedback mostly as fear of refugees by ‘host’ population.

Wider reflections – evidence challenges unconscious bias British Red Cross research: religious faith as a protective factor for leaving, enduring, settling. Asset model: religious faith networks an asset. Deficit model: religious illiteracy & unconscious negative bias towards religious faith.

New Scots Strategy – future aspirations Adding more social ‘glue’ – sport, faith, culture: ‘Communities, Culture & Social Connections’. More local engagement with local providers: community planning, equalities partnerships. Empathy is the priceless ingredient.

Police engaging with VPRS refugees

Police engaging with UNIS

Police & UNIS in Findlay church, Maryhill

Working with refugees in Glasgow

Any Questions? Any Questions? Now or later? Contact Paul.Matheson@scotland.pnn.police.uk Tel: 01236 814702