Report Summary
Issued 3 September 2025, this FOI response provides information held regarding complaints received by the Authority for which Police Scotland is the responsible authority.
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Response
The Scottish Police Authority has considered your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA).
The Authority is responsible for handling relevant complaints about the Authority, SPA Corporate staff, Forensics Services staff and senior police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank and above. Police Scotland is responsible for handling relevant complaints about Police Scotland, Police Scotland staff and Police Scotland officers below Assistant Chief Constable rank.
As previously advised, in no case would the Authority deal with a complaint for which it was not the responsible authority.
Information held shows that in the three-month period prior to 28 August 2025, the Authority received 33 complaints for which Police Scotland was the responsible authority. In all instances, complainers were directed to Police Scotland’s complaint page for further information on how to submit a complaint. However, where complainers required assistance, their complaint was passed to Police Scotland by the Authority’s complaints team on their behalf. Responsibility thereafter rests with Police Scotland.
Both the Authority and Police Scotland must comply with statutory guidance issued by the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC). Where an individual is not satisfied that their complaint has been handled satisfactorily by either organisation, they are able to request a complaint handling review by the PIRC. Where the PIRC determines that a complaint has not been handled reasonably, it may make recommendations back to the relevant authority up to and including its reconsideration.
