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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.

Who We Are

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 19 results

Best Value in policing report 2026 published

Published: 29 January 2026

Budget Performance Forensic Services

View Article

Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 published

Published: 01 December 2025

Budget Performance

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Public Briefing: Supporting Victims

Published: 03 September 2025

Performance Policy

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New Equality Outcomes set for policing

Published: 30 April 2025

Performance Workforce Policy

View Article

PEEL Practice Compendium – February 2025 Update

Published: 19 February 2025

Policy Performance Evidence

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Authority backs vision and plan for policing

Published: 26 September 2024

Workforce Performance

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Authority Praised for Progress

Published: 11 June 2024

Performance

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Hate Crime Data Publication - 5 May 2024

Published: 07 May 2024

Performance

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Hate Crime Data Publication - 28 April 2024

Published: 01 May 2024

Performance

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Hate Crime Data Publication - 23 April 2024

Published: 24 April 2024

Performance

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Hate Crime Data Publication – 16 April 2024

Published: 23 April 2024

Performance

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Gold award for custody visiting

Published: 29 November 2023

Performance

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Cookies on SPA.POLICE.UK

News

Best Value in policing report 2026 published

Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 published

Public Briefing: Supporting Victims

New Equality Outcomes set for policing

PEEL Practice Compendium – February 2025 Update

Authority backs vision and plan for policing

Authority Praised for Progress

Hate Crime Data Publication - 5 May 2024

Hate Crime Data Publication - 28 April 2024

Hate Crime Data Publication - 23 April 2024

Hate Crime Data Publication – 16 April 2024

Gold award for custody visiting