This Act established the unified Police Service of Scotland (Police Scotland) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, replacing legacy regional forces with national ones.
Why It Matters
- Centralised governance under the Scottish Police Authority
- Mandated a duty to improve policing standards and community trust
- Created a statutory obligation to serve the public with fairness and integrity
- Section 32 and Section 20 impose duties of lawful service delivery
- Public interest and accountability are core statutory objectives
We reference this Act when Police Scotland fails to carry out its lawful duty to investigate complaints, protect victims, or serve impartially. The Act still applies today.