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: 19 June 2023

Police Reform Information Sheet

Category: Corporate Document

Keywords : Police Reform Scotland

Police Reform Information Sheet FINAL (pdf, .54MB )

Report Summary

Briefing document detailing the key benefits of police reform in Scotland after the publication of the strategic view of policing in England and Wales on 8 March 2022.

Related Publications

The documents below are related by Topic and are the most recently published

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FOI 2025/26-057 - Equality Act 2010 compliance and governance oversight

Published: 23 September 2025

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FOI 2025/26-070 - Use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology

Published: 19 September 2025

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FOI 2025/26-065 - International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

Published: 19 September 2025

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FOI 2025/26-063 - Complaints received by the Authority where Police Scotland is the responsible authority

Published: 15 September 2025

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Police Reform Information Sheet

Report Summary

Related Publications

FOI 2025/26-057 - Equality Act 2010 compliance and governance oversight

FOI 2025/26-070 - Use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology

FOI 2025/26-065 - International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.

FOI 2025/26-063 - Complaints received by the Authority where Police Scotland is the responsible authority