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Police Scotland

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Police Scotland
Police Scotland
source
NamePolice Scotland
Formed1 April 2013
Preceding1Strathclyde Police
Preceding2Lothian and Borders Police
Preceding3Grampian Police
Preceding4Central Scotland Police
Preceding5Fife Constabulary
Preceding6Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary
Preceding7Northern Constabulary
Preceding8Tayside Police
JurisdictionScotland
HeadquartersTulliallan Castle, Kincardine
CountryScotland
ChiefconstablenameJo Farrell
ChiefconstabletitleChief Constable
Minister1nameAngela Constance
Minister1pnameCabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
AgencynameScottish Police Authority
Sworn16,600 (officers)

Police Scotland. It is the national police service of Scotland, formed on 1 April 2013 by the merger of eight regional forces including Strathclyde Police and Lothian and Borders Police. The service is overseen by the Scottish Police Authority and is accountable to the Scottish Parliament through the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. With its headquarters at Tulliallan Castle, it is the second-largest police force in the United Kingdom after the Metropolitan Police Service.

History

The creation of this single service followed the recommendations of the 2011 Christie Commission and was enacted by the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. This major reform replaced the historic structure of regional forces like Grampian Police and Tayside Police, which had roots in the Police (Scotland) Act 1967. The transition was managed by the first Chief Constable, Sir Stephen House, and aimed to improve efficiency and consistency across the country, including in areas previously served by Northern Constabulary and Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary.

Organisation and structure

The service is divided into three main geographical commands: North, East, and West, which are further subdivided into local policing divisions aligned with local authority areas. Specialist divisions include the Scottish Police Air Support Unit, the Marine Unit, and the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit. Operational support is provided by units such as the Road Policing Unit and the Mounted Branch, while the Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh houses the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and other investigative bodies.

Powers and duties

Officers operate under the legal framework of Scots law, with powers derived from statutes like the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 and the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. Key duties include the prevention and detection of crime under the authority of the Lord Advocate, maintaining public order, and providing assistance to other agencies such as the National Crime Agency and the British Transport Police. The service also has specific responsibilities for firearms licensing and major event security, including at venues like Hampden Park and during events like the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

Performance and controversies

The service has faced scrutiny over issues such as the centralized use of stop and search powers, which was reviewed by the Scottish Police Authority and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. Other significant incidents include the M9 crash response in 2015 and controversies surrounding the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner reports on custody deaths. Financial management and IT projects, notably the failed i6 programme, have also been criticized in audits by Audit Scotland and hearings of the Public Audit Committee.

Chief Constables

The first Chief Constable was Sir Stephen House, formerly of the Metropolitan Police Service, who served from 2013 to 2015. He was succeeded by Phil Gormley, who resigned in 2018. Iain Livingstone was then appointed, having served as interim leader, and was succeeded by the current Chief Constable, Jo Farrell, in 2023. Each has overseen periods of significant operational change and public scrutiny, reporting to chairs of the Scottish Police Authority such as Susan Deacon and Martyn Evans.

Category:Police Scotland Category:Law enforcement in Scotland Category:2013 establishments in Scotland