Legislation setting out Scottish Government plans for a single Police Service for Scotland has now been published.
Scotland has an excellent police service - crime is at a 35-year low, helped by the 1000 extra police officers in communities. However, Scotland's public sector is facing unprecedented financial challenges and reform is the only way to sustain these hard-won gains and sustain the local policing communities depend on. The status quo is no longer sustainable.
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a modern, effective and sustainable Police Service of Scotland which is responsive to the needs of local communities and gives all parts of Scotland access to national specialist police services.
A single Police Service for Scotland will:
- Protect and improve frontline services for local communities against the backdrop of severe budget reductions by the Westminster government;
- Keep communities safer by providing more equitable access across Scotland to specialist support, expertise and national capacity when it is needed;
- Strengthen the links between the police and the communities they serve; and
- Provide clearer national governance.
Key aspects of the Police and Fire Reform Bill (Scotland) 2012 include:
- Regular, formal opportunities for the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise policing.
- Establishing the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) to hold the Chief Constable to account.
- Establishing 'the Police Service of Scotland', comprising a Chief Constable, other officers and police staff. The Chief Constable and other senior officers will be appointed by the SPA. All constables and police staff will transfer to the new service.
- A statutory duty for the Police Service of Scotland to provide adequate local services.
- A designated local policing commander for each local authority area, responsible for involving the local authority in determining priorities and objectives for policing in the local area.
- A local plan for policing for each local authority area, agreed between the relevant local commander or local senior officer and the local authority, setting out priorities, objectives and arrangements for local service delivery.
- Complaint reviews and investigation of serious incidents and criminal offences involving the police to be handled by one independent body, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
The Scottish Government is working with the police service and other key stakeholders on the transition to the new structure.
Subject to Parliamentary approval of the legislation, the Police Service of Scotland is expected to go live on April 1, 2013. A small leadership team will have an interim operating base at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan Castle.
Further information
A news release announcing the publication of the Bill on January 17 2012 is available on the Scottish Government website. The Bill and its supporting documents are also available on the Scottish Parliament website.
Other background information:
For further information please contact:
Police and Fire Reform Division
Scottish Government
Floor 1R
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG