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: 08 February 2023

FOI 2023-001 - Crime statistics - Information not held by SPA

LET 20230105 FOI Response 2023 001 For Web (pdf, .49MB )

Report Summary

Issued 5 January 2023, this FOI response advises that information on statistics/figures for all cautions & convictions to children in care in the 1990s is not held by the Scottish Police Authority. Advice is provided that Police Scotland may hold information.

Request

Can a request be done to find out the statistics/figures for all cautions &
convictions to children in care in the 1990s?

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FOI 2023-001 - Crime statistics - Information not held by SPA

Report Summary

Request

Related Publications

FOI 2025/26-091 - Wide Area Network (WAN) provider contract details

FOI 2025/26-088 - Wait time for Subject Access Request from Police Scotland

Strategic Policing Plan for Scotland 2026-2029 - Consultation Draft

Terms of Reference - Exceptional Circumstances Committee