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

Tackling Antisocial Behaviour - Knowledge Exchange Webinar

Keywords: knowledge exchange webinar
Date: 29 May 2025
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Online

The Scottish Police Authority is hosting a series of knowledge exchange events over 2025/26, including webinars and in-person roundtables/conferences, covering a range of thematic and topical policing issues.

This is the Scottish Police Authority's first topical webinar on 29th May 2025 on the theme of tackling antisocial behaviour. This was supported by colleagues from the Scottish Community Safety Network.

1.00pm Introductions

Dr Jennifer Galbraith, Scottish Police Authority

Dave Shea, Scottish Community Safety Network

1.05pm Data Insights on Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland

Martin Smith, Scottish Police Authority

1.30pm Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour: main
findings and recommendations

Lorraine Gillies, Independent Freelance Consultant

Professor Fiona Dyer, University of Strathclyde

1.55pm Case Studies from Scotland

Safer Shores, Ayrshire
Superintendent Jim MacMillan, Police Scotland

Operation Respect, Inverness
Inspector Emma Wright, Police Scotland

2.30pm Event Close