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

News

The Scottish Police Authority communicates regularly about our role, activities and oversight of policing in Scotland.

You can find all our latest news articles listed in date order. You can also search these by topic or year.

Showing 1 to 12 of 56 results

New Chief Executive takes post

Published: 01 October 2025

Workforce

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Police staff pay deal agreed

Published: 11 September 2025

Workforce Budget

View Article

Multi-year pay deal agreed for officers

Published: 18 August 2025

Workforce

View Article

Next Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Authority announced

Published: 20 June 2025

Workforce

View Article

New Equality Outcomes set for policing

Published: 30 April 2025

Performance Workforce Policy

View Article

ACC appointment

Published: 13 March 2025

Workforce

View Article

2024/25 pay deal agreed for police officers in Scotland

Published: 14 February 2025

Workforce Budget

View Article

Mental Health: Framework for collaboration

Published: 13 February 2025

Workforce

View Article

Vacancies - Assistant Chief Constable

Published: 17 January 2025

Workforce

View Article

2024/25 Staff Pay Award

Published: 08 January 2025

Workforce

View Article

Experienced leader sought

Published: 19 December 2024

Policy Workforce

View Article

Pay Awards Update

Published: 23 October 2024

Workforce

View Article

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News

New Chief Executive takes post

Police staff pay deal agreed

Multi-year pay deal agreed for officers

Next Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Authority announced

New Equality Outcomes set for policing

ACC appointment

2024/25 pay deal agreed for police officers in Scotland

Mental Health: Framework for collaboration

Vacancies - Assistant Chief Constable

2024/25 Staff Pay Award

Experienced leader sought

Pay Awards Update