Report Summary
This report provides members of the Complaints & Conduct Committee with an overview of The Code of Ethics for Policing in Scotland.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Complaints & Conduct Committee - 4 September 2025
Date : 04 September 2025
Location : Online
Background
The Police (Ethics, Conduct & Scrutiny) Scotland Act 2025 (PECSS) was introduced as a Bill to the Scottish Parliament on 6 June 2023 to fulfil the Scottish Government’s commitment to bring forward legislation to deliver Lady Elish Angiolini’s recommendations which require legislation following her ‘Independent Review of Police Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues’.
The Act covers a range of topics related to ethics and conduct for policing, as well as the functions and governance of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) and supports independent scrutiny by PIRC and Scottish Police Authority (SPA).
The PECSS Act was granted Royal Assent on 4 March 2025 and various aspects come into force on 25 June 2025 including the sections relating to a statutory Code of Ethics for Policing in Scotland.
