Report Summary
The Scottish Police Authority responded to a Scottish Government consultation on the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) Bill. This was submitted on 6 December 2024.
This should be read alongside the Authority’s additional written submission on the Bill.
This PDF document above captures the Authority's submission to a Government consultation which was conducted via an online survey.
To view as accessible content please use the sections below.
Code of Ethics
Section 2: Code of ethics
Section 2 of the Bill seeks to establish a statutory Code of Ethics for Police Scotland and would place a duty on the Chief Constable, with the assistance of the Scottish Police Authority, to prepare, consult on, and publish the Code.
It would also give powers to the Chief Constable to revise the Code when necessary (or at least once every 5 years).
The Bill proposes that police officers must ‘have regard to’ the Code. A failure to comply with the Code would not of itself give rise to grounds for any legal action. Neither would a breach necessarily constitute misconduct, which would continue to be measured by the standards of professional behaviour alone.
Q: What are your views on the proposals to establish a statutory Code of Ethics for Police Scotland, the requirement for police officers to have regard to the Code, and the procedures for producing the Code?
A: The Authority supports these provisions in the Bill.
