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

New and Emerging Technologies

You can find some of the Authority's Public Briefings on new and emerging technologies in policing. At the moment, this includes information on drones, body worn video, mobile working, and tasers.

Mobile Working

A Public Briefing explaining the use of mobile devices for Police Officers, and the assurances for the public. Published in February 2023.

View Page

Body Worn Video for Armed Policing

A Public Briefing, published in October 2021, on the use of body worn video for armed policing, and the public assurances around their use.

View Page

Drones

A Public Briefing, published in October 2021, on the use of drones, and the public assurances around their use.

View Page

Tasers

A Public Briefing, published in September 2021, on the use of tasers, and the public assurances around their use.

View Page

Digitally Enabled Policing Programme Work stream Update - 7 December 2022

Published: 19 April 2023

View Page

RPAS (Drones) Update - 11 October 2022

Published: 23 November 2022

View Page

Data Ethics Governance Framework - 4 May 2022

Published: 31 August 2022

View Page

Taser Advisory Group Update - 17 March 2022

Published: 17 November 2022

View Page