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 73 to 84 of 134 results

Post Mortem Toxicology transfers to SPA

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

New Deputy Chief Constable appointed

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

SPA win Public Finance 2022 Award

Published: 18 April 2023

Budget

View Article

Green icon with representation of a light bulb,

Custody Visiting Volunteers Required

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

Green icon of an arrow pointing upwards.

2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts for policing published

Published: 18 April 2023

Budget

View Article

Vacancy: Deputy Chief Constable

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

Updated Covid Fixed Penalty Notice Factsheet

Published: 18 April 2023

Research

View Article

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Approved

Published: 18 April 2023

Policy

View Article

Death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Published: 18 April 2023

View Article

DCC Will Kerr OBE

Published: 18 April 2023

Workforce

View Article

Recorded Crime in Scotland

Published: 18 April 2023

Performance

View Article

2022 Pay deal agreed for police officers in Scotland

Published: 18 April 2023

Budget Workforce

View Article

Tell us whether you accept cookies

News

Post Mortem Toxicology transfers to SPA

New Deputy Chief Constable appointed

SPA win Public Finance 2022 Award

Custody Visiting Volunteers Required

2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts for policing published

Vacancy: Deputy Chief Constable

Updated Covid Fixed Penalty Notice Factsheet

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Approved

Death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

DCC Will Kerr OBE

Recorded Crime in Scotland

2022 Pay deal agreed for police officers in Scotland