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 37 to 48 of 109 results

Exceptional Chief Constable sought for Police Scotland

Published: 29 November 2023

Workforce

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Joint Biometrics Assurance Reviews

Published: 18 April 2023

Performance

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£1.4 billion budget set for policing

Published: 18 April 2023

Budget

View Article

Green icon with 2 arrows moving in different horizontal directions.

Engagement launched on Joint Strategy for Policing 2023-26

Published: 27 April 2023

Policy

View Article

Scotland's Chief Constable to retire

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

Green icon representing 3 broken circles.

SPA Corporate Strategy 2023-26

Published: 18 April 2023

Policy

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New ACCs appointed to Police Scotland

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

Local Police Plans: A Framework for Scrutiny

Published: 18 April 2023

Policy

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Mental Health, Vulnerability and Policing Conference

Published: 18 April 2023

Policy

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Statement: Councillor Graham Houston

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

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Vacancy: Assistant Chief Constables

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

Post Mortem Toxicology transfers to SPA

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

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News

Exceptional Chief Constable sought for Police Scotland

Joint Biometrics Assurance Reviews

£1.4 billion budget set for policing

Engagement launched on Joint Strategy for Policing 2023-26

Scotland's Chief Constable to retire

SPA Corporate Strategy 2023-26

New ACCs appointed to Police Scotland

Local Police Plans: A Framework for Scrutiny

Mental Health, Vulnerability and Policing Conference

Statement: Councillor Graham Houston

Vacancy: Assistant Chief Constables

Post Mortem Toxicology transfers to SPA