Report Summary
The Authority has a set of procedures that details how it will handle a relevant complaint to ensure transparency, equality of treatment, common understanding and public accountability.
As this document constitutes actual working procedures, it covers a significant amount of detail. However, it is hoped that by sharing the ‘how’ and the ‘what’ of its complaint handling, this will allow the Authority to focus its efforts on dealing effectively with all complaints. It also highlights what the Authority will do if there are complaints which do not fall within our remit, or if we consider a complainer’s actions to be unacceptable.
What complaints can the SPA can deal with?
The Police Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (as amended) defines a “relevant complaint” and also provides that the SPA is the “appropriate authority” in relation to relevant complaints about:
- The Authority itself, including Forensic Services;
- A staff member of the Authority, including Forensic Services staff; or
- A senior police officer of Police Scotland, of Assistant Chief Constable rank or above
A relevant complaint is, essentially, a non-criminal complaint made by a member of the public about the SPA, a member of SPA staff or a senior officer. The complaint may relate to any action taken or failed to be taken, or service provided or failed to be provided.
The SPA is also the appropriate authority for dealing with relevant complaints about senior officers in circumstances where the alleged act or omission that gave rise to the complaint occurred before the subject officer was promoted to a senior officer rank. The SPA is similarly the appropriate authority for dealing with relevant complaints about officers whilst temporarily promoted to senior officer rank.
Relevant complaints outwith SPA remit
Where complaints are received by the Authority which do not fall within its remit, the complainer will be advised of the reason why, and where to re-direct the complaint. In such cases, the complaint will be logged, acknowledged within 3 working days, the rationale for the assessment recorded, and the case closed.
The SPA is not responsible for the following:
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Relevant Complaint about: |
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Dealt with by: |
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Police Scotland
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Complaints about these bodies are managed by the respective organisation directly
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