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

Insights

In this section, we will share insights from various individuals and organisations on some of the topical issues facing policing in Scotland or beyond.

Showing 25 to 36 of 36 results

Eric Leggat: Forfeiture of Police Pensions

Published: 18 August 2023

Workforce

View Insight

Image of SPA Head of Change and Operational Scrutiny, Scott Ross, sitting at an office desk.

Scott Ross: Technology for a Policing Purpose

Published: 05 February 2025

Technology

View Insight

Martyn Evans, Chair of the SPA sitting at a desk inside an office building.

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: A decade of Police Reform

Published: 02 February 2025

Workforce

View Insight

Dr Brian Plastow, Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Biometrics Reviews

Published: 27 July 2023

Research Evidence

View Insight

Image of Board Member Alasdair Hay standing outside of an office building.

Alasdair Hay, SPA: Violence against Women and Girls Strategy

Published: 25 July 2023

Policy

View Insight

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: Women in Policing Conference 2023

Published: 02 February 2025

Workforce

View Insight

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: Scottish Government 2023-24 budget

Published: 02 February 2025

Budget

View Insight

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: Children in Police Custody

Published: 02 February 2025

Policy Evidence

View Insight

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: Policing budget facing "substantial shortfall"

Published: 02 February 2025

Budget

View Insight

An update on the role and work of the Policing Performance Committee

Published: 14 April 2025

Performance Policy

View Insight

Laura and John, Independent Custody Visitors: In their own words

Published: 25 July 2023

Workforce

View Insight

Jane Ryder, SPA Vice Chair: Celebrates our ICVS volunteers

Published: 14 April 2025

Workforce

View Insight

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Insights

Eric Leggat: Forfeiture of Police Pensions

Scott Ross: Technology for a Policing Purpose

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: A decade of Police Reform

Dr Brian Plastow, Scottish Biometrics Commissioner: Biometrics Reviews

Alasdair Hay, SPA: Violence against Women and Girls Strategy

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: Women in Policing Conference 2023

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: Scottish Government 2023-24 budget

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: Children in Police Custody

Martyn Evans, SPA Chair: Policing budget facing "substantial shortfall"

An update on the role and work of the Policing Performance Committee

Laura and John, Independent Custody Visitors: In their own words

Jane Ryder, SPA Vice Chair: Celebrates our ICVS volunteers