The neighbourhoods, workplaces, homes, social spaces and natural environment of our country are crucial foundations within our lives. When these building blocks are secure, they provide our lives with stability and a sense of belonging that can help unlock potential, foster connectedness and support individual flourishing. In contrast, uncertainty about the future, a sense that nothing works and injustice going unaddressed only stokes division and discontent in our society.  

Building secure and strong communities depends on people feeling safe in their homes and on the streets. For that to occur, victims of crime need to know that justice will be delivered, that crimes will be investigated, and that criminals will be prosecuted and punished. The police must work to develop mutual trust between themselves and communities, and they must be available when called on. Years of cuts and centralisation have eroded this sense of security.

Scottish Labour believes that everybody should have a home that is safe, secure and affordable, but this remains a far-off dream for too many Scots. Under the SNP, homelessness has soared, and we are building fewer social and council homes than we have done in decades. Ending the housing emergency will be a key priority of a Scottish Labour government. 

Scottish Labour wants to build towns, cities and neighbourhoods where Scots can grow up, live their lives and grow old in community with others. The past decade has seen many public services undermined by cuts but repairing the resilience of our communities will not be solved by money alone. It will require proactive interventions that promote fairness, deliver safety for individuals and empower local people. 

Find out more about the SNP’s record of policing below:

Police numbers have fallen under the SNP leaving Scotland's communities more vulnerable to crime. pic.twitter.com/eL4lgfwZR2

— Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) October 11, 2025

To Reduce Crime and Antisocial Behaviour in our Neighbourhoods, Scottish Labour will:

· Return to visible community policing by putting at least 360 police officers back on the frontline.

· End the police hours wasted in A&E responding to mental health calls or waiting to give evidence in court.

· Deliver a named community and crime prevention police officer in every council ward to work directly with schools, retailers, and community groups to build relationships and gather intelligence on crime within local areas

· Remove free bus and travel passes from individuals who carry out antisocial behaviour on public transport and in communities.

· Review the sentencing guidelines for under 25s so sentences are fair and no one escapes justice because of their age.

Far too many police officers in Scotland spend time stuck in court and A&E under the SNP’s broken system.

Scottish Labour will put officers back on our streets. pic.twitter.com/YuASr9FOKb

— Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) December 1, 2025

To Tackle the Housing Emergency, Scottish Labour will:

· End rough sleeping, working across government to tackle the root causes of homelessness.

· Protect affordable home discounts so that affordable housing stock is maintained and future buyers can also benefit.

· Tackle the scale of empty and second homes, by closing tax loopholes, increasing the council tax escalator on these premises and supporting councils to buy neglected and empty homes that blight neighbourhoods. 

· Establish a £1 homes scheme bringing derelict homes back into use by selling them to homeowners who are committed to turning them back into homes that are lived in and loved.  

· Overhaul the planning system so that it supports greater housebuilding, with a central planning agency that can provide expertise to local authorities to speed up decision making for developments.

Find out more about the SNP’s record of housing below:

After years of dithering, the SNP still does not have a plan to address the dire housing situation in Scotland – despite declaring a housing emergency a year ago. pic.twitter.com/2Snkh9c9mx

— Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) July 31, 2025

To Support and Empower People in Every Part of the Country, Scottish Labour will:

· Deliver fair funding for local government, with a multi-year funding settlement that will support the local services on which we all depend on.

· Pass a Local Democracy Bill to push power out of Holyrood and ensure local people can make decisions and elect leaders to drive economic development locally.

· Help keep down the cost of living for those most in need by maintaining the Scottish Child Payment and keeping concessionary bus travel for under-22s and older people.

· Finally deliver the powers and ability for regions to take control of local bus service so that they run in the service of local people, with London and Manchester style services.

· Establish a New Deal for the Third Sector with multi-year funding and jointly agreed principle and outcomes for tackling social inequality, reducing poverty and increasing social prosperity.