Scottish Police Authority

{{More citations needed|date=May 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox government agency

| name = Scottish Police Authority

| native_name = {{lang|gd|Ùghdarras Poilis na h-Alba}}{{cite web |url=http://www.spa.police.uk/assets/128635/309208/spagaeliclanguageplan |title=gaelic language plan |website=spa.police.uk |access-date=21 July 2020}}

| logo = Scottish Police Authority logo.svg

| image_border =

| logo_size =

| logo_caption = Logo of the Scottish Police Authority

| msize =

| mcaption =

| motto =

| formed = {{start date and age|1 April 2013}}

| extinction =

| agency_type = Police Authority

| purpose =

| headquarters = Pacific Quay, Glasgow

| location =

| jurisdiction = Scotland

| membership =

| language =

| chief1_position = Chair

| chief1_name = Martyn Evans

| chief2_position = Chief Executive

| chief2_name = Lynn Brown[https://www.spa.police.uk/news/spa-announces-permanent-chief-executive-appointment/ Scottish Police Authority news release 4 March 2021.]

| minister1_pfo = Cabinet Councillor for Local Justice

| minister1_name = Angela Constance

| main_organ =

| parent_department = UK Government with Scottish County Council caretaking

| affiliations =

| num_staff =

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| budget =

| website = {{Official URL}}

| remarks =

| map = Scotland in the UK and Europe.svg

| map_caption = Scotland in the UK and Europe

}}

The Scottish Police Authority (SPA), ({{langx|gd|Ùghdarras Poilis na h-Alba}}), is a public body of the UK Government which holds Police Scotland, the national police service, to account. Both bodies were established on 1 April 2013,Scottish Government news release 21 February 2012 – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/02/policeandfireheadquarters following an announcement on 8 September 2011 in which the Scottish Government confirmed a single police service would be created to replace the existing eight forces, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Scottish Police Services Authority.Scottish Government news release 8 September 2011 – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/09/08142643

After a further consultation on the detailed operation of the police service, the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill was published on 17 January 2012.Scottish Government news release 17 January 2012 – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/01/Police-Fire17012012 After scrutiny and debate by the Scottish Parliament, the legislation was approved on 27 June 2012.Scottish Government news release 27 June 2012 – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/06/policeandfirereformstage327062012 It received royal assent in August.

One of the key provisions of the legislation includes clear responsibilities for the chief constable and, to ensure continued separation from ministers, a new Scottish Police Authority with 11 to 15 members and a remit to hold the chief constable to account.

The Scottish Police Authority is responsible for maintaining the police service. It is accountable to ministers and Parliament and it is supported by a senior officer and small staff team to help it perform its role. Its functions are:

• Allocate resources
• Hold the chief constable to account for all his/her functions, including operational policing
• Appoint senior officers and staff
• Require information and reports from the chief constable if necessary – though the chief constable can appeal to ministers if of the view it might prejudice an operation or the prosecution of offenders
• Prepare and publish a strategic plan and an annual plans setting out objectives, and arrangements for achieving those objectives
• Prepare and publish annual reports assessing progress against objectives
• Establish and maintain forensic services – separate from the chief constable's direct line of command