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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.

Our Priorities for Policing

Find out more about how the Authority, Police Scotland and Forensic Services support delivery of the Scottish Government's Strategic Police Priorities.

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Our Board

The Board of the Authority consists of up to fifteen Members, appointed by Scottish Ministers. They operate at a strategic level, providing strategic guidance and oversight. They articulate a vision, and communicate their expectations of standards for policing in Scotland.

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Head and shoulder image of Lynn Brown, Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Authority taken outside.

Our Senior Leadership Team

Our Senior Leadership Team in the Authority is led by the Chief Executive. It is responsible for strategic oversight. Its oversight covers business management, resources and finance, strategy and performance, and legal affairs.

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Head and shoulder image of Fiona Douglas, Director of Forensic Services taken outside an office building.

Forensic Services Senior Management Team

Led by the Director of Forensic Services, our Senior Management Team is responsible for providing excellent, innovative forensic services to support justice in Scotland, and keep our communities safe and protected.

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