Response

The Scottish Police Authority has considered your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA).

For context, the Scottish Police Authority has arrangements for handling complaints about the Authority and its staff. The Authority also considers complaints about senior officers of Police Scotland (Assistant Chief Constable and above). The Complaints and Conduct Committee provides assurance that these arrangements are suitable, and it monitors the Police Scotland’s handling of complaints.

Given the nature of its business, some meetings of the Complaints and Conduct Committee are held in private session. However, quarterly and annual reporting is publicly available, the most recent being provided as footnotes.

A. How many staff does the SPA employ at present date?

Scottish Police Authority employees include SPA Corporate, Forensic Services and police staff under the direction of the Chief Constable of Police Scotland. At present there are 6369 Authority employees, this is made up of 46 SPA Corporate employees; 633 Forensic Services employees, and 5690 police staff in Police Scotland.

For the purposes of this request, responses are in reference to SPA Corporate.

B. How many investigators does the SPA employ?

SPA Corporate does not employ anyone in the role of ‘investigator’. The Authority has a team comprising a Complaints and Conduct Manager and two Complaints and Conduct Coordinators. Part of their role involves investigation of non-criminal complaints for which the Authority is responsible.

C) How many staff are on the board of the SPA?

N staff sit on the Authority’s Board. The Authority currently has nine non-executive Board members for whom information is publicly available.

Board members are not employees of the Authority but non-executive Members who are appointed by Scottish Government ministers through a Public Appointments process.

D) How many investigators at the SPA are former/current Police Scotland officers or staff?

As per response at question B above, SPA Corporate does not employ anyone in the role of ‘investigator’. Notwithstanding this, the Complaints and Conduct Manager was formerly employed as a member of police staff, and two Complaints and Conduct Coordinators are retired Police Scotland officers.

E) How many of the Board have previous connection to Police Scotland having worked for them?

No Board Members have worked for Police Scotland. Biographies of current Board Members are publicly available.

F) How many staff have been previous employees of COPFS?

The Authority does not hold information. By means of explanation, Police Scotland provides certain services to the Authority, in line with legislation. This includes human resources, recruitment and vetting services.

G) How many staff/board members have a previous connection/have worked for the Scottish Government?

The Authority does not hold information. In terms of staff see response at question F. In terms of Board Members, recruitment, selection and appointment is a matter for the Scottish Government’s Public Appointments team and ministers. Information may be available by contacting Scottish Government at contactus@gov.scot

H) How many criminal complaints have been made against a Chief Constable in the last 6 years, this can be broken down to 2020,2021,2022,2023,2024 and present day 2025

No criminal complaints against a Chief Constable of Police Scotland have been received from 2020 to present. SPA Corporate is responsible for investigating non-criminal complaints. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) independently investigates criminal allegations made against Police Officers in Scotland acting in the course of their duty. Information may be available by contacting COPFS at FOI@copfs.gov.uk

I) How many Criminal Complaints were made against Chief Constable Sir Stephen House over his tenure as Chief Constable?

How many were progressed to PIRC?

How many were progressed to COPFS ?

If available , a list of what the complaints related to would be helpfully , such a gross misconduct, abuse etc

J) How many Criminal Complaints were made against Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone over his tenure as Chief Constable.

How many were progressed to PIRC?

How many were progressed to COPFS

If available , a list of what the complaints related to would be helpful, such a gross misconduct, abuse etc

K) How many Criminal Complaints were made against Chief Constable Phil Gormley over his tenure as Chief Constable?

How many were progressed to PIRC?

How many were progressed to COPFS ?

If available , a list of what the complaints related to would be helpful, such a gross misconduct, abuse etc

L) How many Criminal Complaints have been made against Chief Constable Jo Farrell over her tenure as Chief Constable to present date.

How many were progressed to PIRC?

How many were progressed to COPFS

If available , a list of what the complaints related to would be helpful, such a gross misconduct, abuse etc

No criminal complaints against Chief Constables of Police Scotland have been received. As per response at question H, information may be available by contacting COPFS at FOI@copfs.gov.uk

M) in relation to points I-L for each Chief Constable, can you provide a list of how many complaints/criminal complaints were made against the senior executive officers you investigate who worked under those Chief Constables at the time, broken down by rank and again if available what the complaint was, no great detail, just if it was gross misconduct, abuse etc

Nine complaints were received about Deputy Chief Constables (DCCs), involving 24 separate allegations. The nature of these complaints were recorded under the following categories:

• Abuse of position (3)
• Failure to respond to correspondence (3)
• Criminal allegation of assault (1)
• Data protection (1)
• Public comments (1)

One case is ongoing awaiting assessment.

13 complaints were received about Assistant Chief Constables (ACCs), involving 28 individual allegations. The nature of these complaints were recorded under the following categories:

• Failure to respond to correspondence (3)
• Public comments (3)
• Failure to investigate (2)
• Criminal allegation regarding firearms offences (1)
• Discrimination (1)
• Failure to disclose information on application form (1)
• Failure to submit security vetting and falsehood as to clearance level (1)
• Neglect of duty (1)

And how many of the complaints were upheld, partially upheld or dismissed completely with no further action

Of 24 individual allegations against DCCs, none were upheld.

Of 28 individual allegations against ACCs, two were upheld.

N) How many non criminal complaints have been made against each of the 4 Chief Constables over their tenure as Chief Constable of Police Scotland?

63 non-criminal complaints have been received about Chief Constables of Police Scotland. A breakdown by Chief Constable is not provided as this is considered to be third-party personal data. This exemption is absolute and does not require application of the public interest test. While you may have a legitimate interest in disclosure of this information, it is our view that those interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects.

O) How many Criminal complaints against the 4 Chief Constables were upheld?

No criminal complaints against Chief Constables of Police Scotland have been received. As per response at questions H-L, information may be available by contacting COPFS at FOI@copfs.gov.uk

P) How many of the non criminal complaints against the 4 Chief Constables were upheld, partially upheld and dismissed in their entirety?

Of 63 non-criminal complaints against Chief Constables of Police Scotland, none were upheld.