Report Summary
This is the Authority’s third Complaints and Conduct Committee annual report, which provides information and insights about numbers, performance and assurance in relation to complaints received during 2022-23.
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To view as accessible content please use the sections below. (Note that tables and some appendixes are not available as accessible content).
Introduction
The Authority has specific functions under the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Police & Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 in respect of complaints. These are summarised below:
- It must deal with “relevant” complaints about the Authority, its staff[1], and senior officers of Police Scotland (i.e. officers of the rank of Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable); and
- It must keep itself informed of the manner in which Police Scotland deals with relevant complaints, and be satisfied that Police Scotland has suitable arrangements in place.
The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC) has a similar statutory duty to the Authority in this regard. Under the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, it must keep under review all arrangements maintained by both the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland for the handling of relevant complaints; and seek to secure that those arrangements are efficient and effective, contain and manifest an appropriate degree of independence, and are adhered to.
In the context of Police Scotland:
- It must deal with “relevant” complaints about Police Scotland, police officers at the rank of Chief Superintendent and below, and police staff.
“Relevant” complaints are as defined in the 2006 Act, although a summary is provided in section 4 below.
The role of the Authority’s Complaints & Conduct Committee, specifically in relation to complaints, is:
- to provide assurance that the Authority has suitable arrangements for the handling of complaints about the SPA, its staff and senior officers of Police Scotland
- to monitor the handling of complaints by the Chief Constable
It fulfils this role by:
- considering and approving arrangements, including policies and procedures and guidance, relating to the handling of complaints by the Authority, seeking the views of other stakeholders as necessary
- considering and determining complaints about the Authority, its staff and senior officers of Police Scotland in accordance with the provisions of the Police Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 and the statutory guidance produced by the PIRC
- monitoring the handling of relevant complaints by the Authority and Police Scotland, seeking information on themes or trends as appropriate, with a view to the Committee satisfying itself that the arrangements maintained by the Authority and Police Scotland for the handling of relevant complaints are suitable
- critically examining reports from HMICS, PIRC, and any other information provided by Police Scotland in relation to complaints about the police, and ensuring that appropriate improvement plans are implemented or remedial action is taken within agreed timescales
- contributing to and considering the findings of official reviews of complaints and conduct matters, and ensuring that recommendations from such reviews are implemented as appropriate
[1] Staff working within SPA Corporate and Forensic Services
