We use cookies to collect information about how you use the Police Scotland website. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services.
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.
The Scottish Police Authority is responsible for maintaining policing. It has four specific areas of responsibility:
This section tells you in outline what the Authority does.
This page offers some more detailed insight into new developments and important topics for policing in Scotland.
In this section you will find news and insight articles by the Scottish Police Authority, which is committed to communicating regularly about our work and about the issues affecting policing in Scotland.
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).
