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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

Publication Library

The Authority is committed to conducting its activity in an open and transparent manner, and in a way that builds trust and confidence in policing.

In this section we aim to make as much of our information as possible available, accessible and searchable. Our publication scheme summarises all of the information we publish. This aims to improve public access to the information we hold and encouraging public awareness of, and participation in, the decisions we make.

Where possible we provide a suitable HTML alternative and / or make documents accessible. Please contact us if you would like to request a corporate publication in an alternative format.

Scottish Police Authority - Publication Scheme

Committee

Topic

SPA Board Diversity and Gender Representation Report 2026

Published: 14 May 2026

Publication

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Public Polling Insights - 19 March 2025

Published: 14 May 2026

Publication Policing Performance Committee

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Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 - Annual Reporting 2024-25

Published: 27 April 2026

Publication

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Public Polling Insights - 17 March 2026

Published: 22 April 2026

Publication Policing Performance Committee

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Public Polling Insights – November 2025

Published: 15 April 2026

Publication

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Public Inquiries Update - 12 March 2026

Published: 09 March 2026

Publication Legal Committee

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Scottish Police Authority - Publication Scheme

Published: 06 January 2026

Publication

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Violence Against Women and Girls - Public Briefing - February 2024

Published: 14 March 2024

Publication

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Victim Support – Public Briefing

Published: 01 September 2025

Publication

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Trauma-Informed Practice – Public Briefing

Published: 21 May 2025

Publication

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Terms of Reference - Joint Research and Evidence Forum

Published: 10 January 2024

Publication

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Tasers - Public Briefing- September 2021

Published: 18 April 2023

Publication

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Cookies on SPA.POLICE.UK

Publication Library

SPA Board Diversity and Gender Representation Report 2026

Public Polling Insights - 19 March 2025

Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 - Annual Reporting 2024-25

Public Polling Insights - 17 March 2026

Public Polling Insights – November 2025

Public Inquiries Update - 12 March 2026

Scottish Police Authority - Publication Scheme

Violence Against Women and Girls - Public Briefing - February 2024

Victim Support – Public Briefing

Trauma-Informed Practice – Public Briefing

Terms of Reference - Joint Research and Evidence Forum

Tasers - Public Briefing- September 2021