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

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.

Published: 20 November 2025

Publication

View Publication

FOI 2025/26-075 - Correspondence between SPA and Police Scotland regarding assurances provided to Complaints and Conduct Committee 5 June 2025

Published: 16 October 2025

Publication

View Publication

FOI 2025/26-032 - Information and communications related to non-UK data processing over the past 12 months

Published: 03 October 2025

Publication

View Publication

Tell us whether you accept cookies

Publication Library

Committee & Oversight Group Reports - 25 May 2023

Terms of Reference - Exceptional Circumstances Committee

Terms of Reference - Audit Risk & Assurance Committee

Terms of Reference - Policing Performance Committee

Terms of Reference - Forensic Services Committee

Terms of Reference - Complaints and Conduct Committee

Terms of Reference - People Committee

Terms of Reference - Resources Committee

Committee Chair's Report - 27 November 2025

FOI 2025/26-083 - Settlement of Public Liability Claim report to Legal Committee October 2025

FOI 2025/26-075 - Correspondence between SPA and Police Scotland regarding assurances provided to Complaints and Conduct Committee 5 June 2025

FOI 2025/26-032 - Information and communications related to non-UK data processing over the past 12 months