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

Published: 09 December 2022

FOI 2022-084 - Journalists arrested during protest action - Information not held by SPA

Category: FOI

LET 20221130 FOI Response 2022 084 For Web (pdf, .46MB )

Report Summary

This FOI response advises that information on numbers of journalists/reporters arrested during protest action is not held by the Scottish Police Authority. Advice is provided that Police Scotland may hold information.

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FOI 2024/25-081 - Productions related to Luke Mitchell/Jodi Jones case

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FOI 2024/25-084 - Money paid to senior officers who have retired in the last five years

Published: 17 December 2024

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Published: 17 December 2024

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FOI 2022-084 - Journalists arrested during protest action - Information not held by SPA

Report Summary

Related Publications

SPA Corporate Governance Framework

FOI 2024/25-081 - Productions related to Luke Mitchell/Jodi Jones case

FOI 2024/25-084 - Money paid to senior officers who have retired in the last five years

FOI 2024/25-080 - Health and safety RIDDORs for those detained in police custody