Who We Are

The Scottish Police Authority is independent of both the Scottish Government and policing. It is the primary governance body for policing in Scotland, and was established as a public body on 1 April 2013 by the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. It was set up to hold the Chief Constable to account; promote, support and oversee improvement in policing. It is also responsible for the management and delivery of Forensic Services in Scotland and Independent Custody Visiting Scotland.

In this section, find out more about the Authority’s priorities, the Board and the Leadership team.

Who We Are

What We Do

The Scottish Police Authority is responsible for maintaining policing. It has four specific areas of responsibility:

promoting the policing principles

supporting continuous improvement

keeping policing under review

holding the Chief Constable to account.

This section tells you in outline what the Authority does.

What We Do

Complaints

Are you dissatisfied with the service you have received from policing in Scotland?

The Scottish Police Authority, Police Scotland and the Police Investigations and Reviews Commissioner (PIRC) all have a role to play in considering complaints about policing in Scotland.

In this section, find out who to direct your complaint to. We also welcome written communication in Gaelic (see our Gaelic Language Plan).

Complaints

News

The Scottish Police Authority communicates regularly about our role, activities and oversight of policing in Scotland.

You can find all our latest news articles listed in date order. You can also search these by topic or year.

Showing 109 to 120 of 124 results

SPA evidence to Justice Sub Committee on drones and body worn video

Published: 02 February 2023

Technology Evidence

View Article

ICVS Annual Report 2021-22

Published: 18 April 2023

Performance

View Article

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HMICS review of Strategic Workforce Planning

Published: 29 June 2023

Workforce

View Article

Latest factsheet on public confidence polling

Published: 18 April 2023

Evidence

View Article

Drug driving demand exceeds forensic analysis capacity

Published: 18 April 2023

Forensic Services

View Article

Have you heard about Corporate Parenting?

Published: 18 April 2023

Policy

View Article

Police Reform: Learnings in Scotland

Published: 18 April 2023

Policy

View Article

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Strategic review of policing in England and Wales

Published: 18 April 2023

Policy

View Article

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New ACCs sworn in at Police Scotland

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

High public trust in Scottish policing

Published: 18 April 2023

Evidence

View Article

Scots optimistic about new technologies despite concerns

Published: 18 April 2023

Technology

View Article

Three new ACCs to join Police Scotland

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

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News

SPA evidence to Justice Sub Committee on drones and body worn video

ICVS Annual Report 2021-22

HMICS review of Strategic Workforce Planning

Latest factsheet on public confidence polling

Drug driving demand exceeds forensic analysis capacity

Have you heard about Corporate Parenting?

Police Reform: Learnings in Scotland

Strategic review of policing in England and Wales

New ACCs sworn in at Police Scotland

High public trust in Scottish policing

Scots optimistic about new technologies despite concerns

Three new ACCs to join Police Scotland