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

Published: 07 October 2022

FOI 2022-039 - Political affiliations - press/media costs and guidance

Category: FOI

Keywords : costs external relations

LET 20220628 FOI Response S17 2022 039 For Web (pdf, .3MB )

Report Summary

This FOI response confirms spend and number employed to handle press/media and advises that some of the information requested is not held by the Scottish Police Authority.

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FOI 2022-039 - Political affiliations - press/media costs and guidance

Report Summary

Related Publications

Community Asset Transfer - Annual Report 2024/25

FOI 2025/26-031 - Training for police custody staff in dispensing medication, drug treatment and European Human Rights Act

FOI 2025/26-029 - Contract register and related information

FOI 2025/26-025 - Various total spend 2021-22 to 2024-25