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: 29 May 2025

SPA Corporate and Forensic Services Best Value Update - 21 May 2025

ITEM 4.3 SPA And FS Best Value Update (pdf, 1.43MB )

Report Summary

This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority's Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee with an update on best value progress across SPA Corporate and SPA Forensic Services.

To access the full document please open the PDF document above.

To view as accessible content please use the sections below. (Note that tables and some appendixes are not available as accessible content).

Meeting

The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below

Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee - 21 May 2025

Date : 21 May 2025

Location : online

View Meeting

Implications

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are financial implications associated with this paper. Use of resources is a key Best Value characteristic which includes financial resources that require to be considered.

PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS

There are personnel implications associated with this paper. Use of resources is a key Best Value characteristic which includes people resources that require to be considered.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

There may be legal implications associated with this paper, given that Best Value principles include all accepts of how the service operates effectively.

REPUTATIONAL IMPLICATIONS

There may be reputational implications associated with this paper, if the Authority is not able to demonstrate good stewardship of public money and fair/equitable use of all resources for the benefit of the public.

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are social implications associated with this paper. Partnership work and working with communities are key Best Value characteristics that require to be considered.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

There are community impact implications associated with this paper. Working with communities is a key Best Value characteristic that requires to be considered.

EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

There are equalities implications associated with this paper. Fairness and equality are key Best Value characteristics that requires to be considered.

ENVIRONMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are environmental implications associated with this paper. Sustainability is a key Best Value characteristic that requires to be considered.

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