Police officers and staff across Scotland do a vital job keeping our communities safe, often in challenging circumstances.
We are committed to supporting this crucial service, and ensuring our police workforce is well-equipped to deal with emerging threats and future needs.
Actions
We are building on reforms already delivered to Scottish policing by:
- supporting the delivery of the 10 year policing strategy 'Serving a Changing Scotland' which aims to transform police services
- improving how complaints about the police are dealt with and strengthening public confidence in policing
- setting out police terms and conditions following recommendations by the Police Negotiating Board
We are also:
- strengthening powers and procedures available to the police to prevent and detect crime, whilst protecting the rights of those accused
-
improving the scrutiny and accountability for how biometric data such as fingerprints, DNA and facial images are handled by specific law enforcement organisations through the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Act
-
ensuring that a lawful, ethical effective and proportionate approach is taken to police use of biometric data and related technologies, such as Live Facial Recognition
-
funding a programme to support the mental health and wellbeing of front line emergency workers, including police
Background
Police Scotland is the single service responsible for policing in Scotland.
It is held to account by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) which is accountable to Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament.
The SPA is also responsible for the management and delivery of forensic services and independent custody visiting in Scotland.
We set the strategic police priorities, which are supported by the Scottish Police Authority's strategic police plan and Police Scotland's annual plan.
Statistics
The police officer quarterly strength statistics provide quarterly updates on the number of police officers employed by Police Scotland.
Minutes of meetings
We publish minutes of meetings between the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Chief Constable of Police Scotland and the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority.
Bills and legislation
The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 provides the statutory basis for policing in Scotland.
It brought together 10 police organisations into a single police service.
The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 modernised the arrest and custody procedures and provisions for people coming into police custody.
Archive content
You can access police content that was previously on the www2.gov.scot site at the gov.scot archive.
Contact
Police Division
Scottish Government
1st Floor Rear
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
Tel: 03002444000