Scottish Police Authority and Scottish Government meeting: October 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs 
• Fiona McQueen, Chair of SPA
• Chris Brown, Chief Executive, SPA
• Kerry Morgan, Deputy Director, Police Division, Scottish Government
• Lynsey McKean, Police Division, Scottish Government  

Items and actions

Welcome

The Cabinet Secretary welcomed the Chair to the meeting and extended a particular welcome to the Chief Executive, attending for the first time in his new role, as part of the regular bi-monthly meetings between the Chair and the Cabinet Secretary.

Budget 

The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the rationale behind the Police Scotland budget submission and expressed that she was not unsympathetic to its drivers, however, she noted elements of the proposal appeared to diverge from the direction of travel discussed in her regular monthly meetings with the Chief Constable. The Cabinet Secretary outlined the broader fiscal context, highlighting the significant pressures across public finances. She committed to doing all she could to negotiate a fair settlement for Police Scotland as part of the wider Scottish Government budget process.

The SPA Chair acknowledged the challenging fiscal environment and reiterated Police Scotland’s ambition to continue progressing reform.  She framed the current proposal as the next phase of the original reform programme following the unification of the eight legacy forces into a single national service. She committed to working collaboratively with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to secure the best possible outcome, while noting that a flat cash settlement would mean that the SPA could not deliver a balanced budget.

The discussion concluded with reference to the upcoming Criminal Justice Committee evidence session on 5 November, which will further explore the budgetary requirements for Police Scotland for the coming financial year.

Stop and Search Code of Practice

The Cabinet Secretary provided an update on the ongoing review of the Stop and Search Code of Practice. She confirmed that a revised version of the Code is on track to be issued for public consultation by the end of the year. The Cabinet Secretary welcomed the Police Scotland interim guidance to provide operational clarity to frontline officers in response to the Supreme Court judgment.

The Cabinet Secretary stressed the importance of robust data on the use of stop and search in Scotland and sought the SPA’s commitment to ensuring this is brought to the Board and relevant committees to enable appropriate scrutiny of the powers.

Mental Health & Policing 

The Cabinet Secretary spoke of the ongoing work to reduce the volume of mental health-related incidents being directed to Police Scotland, involving individuals in distress or crisis within the community. There was a shared understanding of the direction needed to further drive progress to deliver a sustainable and appropriate model of response.

The Cabinet Secretary emphasised the importance of having robust and consistent data to evidence the scale and impact of mental health demand on frontline policing. This data will be critical in assessing progress, informing future policy decisions, and supporting cross-sector collaboration. The Chair and Chief Executive acknowledged the significance of the issue and committed to increasing focus both within SPA and in partnership with Police Scotland.

Drug Driving Roll out

The Cabinet Secretary and the Chair discussed progress on the processing of samples for individuals stopped on suspicion of drug driving. The Chair confirmed that previous issues on the processing of samples have largely been resolved. She highlighted pilots in Aberdeenshire and East Ayrshire, which enable non-roads policing officers to carry out roadside drug testing.

The Cabinet Secretary sought assurance that SPA has the capacity to manage any increase in sample volumes should this approach be rolled out more widely. The Chair advised that current volumes remain manageable and, while a significant increase could prompt consideration of a larger facility, current levels do not yet justify such an expansion. Options are, however, being actively explored in anticipation of future demand.  The Cabinet Secretary also sought assurances in relation to time barred cases.

Police Scotland Legal Costs

The Cabinet Secretary raised concerns on the requirement for Police Scotland to meet legal costs associated with public inquiries. She expressed a desire to explore whether alternative mechanisms could be identified to better manage or offset these costs, recognising the financial pressure they place on core policing budgets.

In response, the SPA Chair committed to examining the issue further, including the current arrangements for legal representation of core participants. This will include consideration of whether individual representation is necessary in all cases, and whether there are opportunities to improve cost management while maintaining appropriate legal support.