Introduction - The SPA

The Scottish Police Authority was established on 1 April 2013 by the The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. The Authority consists of a Board of up to 15 members, including a Chair, who are selected through a public appointments process and appointed by Scottish Ministers.

The Authority was set up to provide a clear separation between Scottish Ministers and the police service.

The key principles set out in the Act which underpin the policing of Scotland are:

• that the purpose of policing is to improve the safety and well-being of persons, localities and communities in Scotland;
• and that the Police Service, working in collaboration with others where appropriate, should seek to achieve that main purpose by policing in a way which;
  (i) is accessible to, and engaged with, local communities, and
  (ii) promotes measures to prevent crime, harm and disorder.

The Authority has five core functions set out within the Act. These are:

• to maintain the Police Service;
• to promote the policing principles set out in the 2012 Act;
• to promote and support continuous improvement in the policing of Scotland;
• to keep under review the policing of Scotland; and
• to hold the Chief Constable to account for the policing of Scotland.

These five functions demonstrate the complementary responsibilities of the Authority to oversee policing and hold the Chief Constable to account, while supporting policing to maintain and improve.

The Authority has a number of additional responsibilities in addition to the core functions set out in the Act, including importantly the provision of Forensic Services to the wider criminal justice system in Scotland. The service provided in Scotland is a unique crime scene-to-court model which ensures impartiality and independence by placing a sterile corridor between Forensic Services and Police Scotland.

The Authority employs circa 600 staff to deliver Forensic Services in Scotland, and circa 50 staff to support the Authority in delivering its oversight and governance responsibilities.

The Authority is also the employer of more than 5000 police staff who are under the direction and control of the Chief Constable, and who support Police Scotland in the exercise of its functions.

The Authority also has a statutory duty to maintain and manage an Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (ICVS) to monitor the welfare of people detained in police custody facilities throughout Scotland. The ICV scheme helps ensure that the Authority is meeting its obligations to in relation to equality and diversity and the protection of human rights. It also helps to ensure that Scotland is doing everything it can in its public services to meet international standards set by the United Nations in its Optional Protocol to the Convention
against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).

The Authority also has an important role in considering complaints about the Authority; Authority staff, or Police Scotland officers at the rank of Assistant Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable or Chief Constable.

As the primary governance body for policing in Scotland, the Authority’s role and responsibilities are distinct from most other public bodies. The Authority sets and monitors an annual budget of over £1.3 billion and is responsible for securing best value in relation to its functions. The Authority’s Chief Executive is the Accountable Officer personally responsible to the Scottish Parliament for the entire budget.

The Authority sets strategy, scrutinises and reports on performance, supports continuous improvement activity, and listens to and takes into account a wide range of views about the policing of Scotland. The Authority’s oversight and support of policing draws on a wide range of evidence and on independent, expert opinion from a number of bodies, including inspectorates, auditors and similar organisations.

The Authority is committed to working in partnership with others at both a local and national level to deliver our responsibilities. Local authorities are an important component of the Authority’s engagement work as it seeks to ensure communities are able to influence the services they receive.

The Authority’s organisational priorities are set out in its Corporate Strategy published on the website.