Caroline Gardner

A report from the Auditor General highlights some progress over the last year amid a raft of new appointments to Police Scotland, including a new Chief Constable and three deputies, and seven new members to the SPA board.

The authority overspent by £36 million on a total police budget of £1.1 billion, and it will not achieve financial balance by 2021 as planned.

The Auditor General remains concerned about the SPA’s capacity and capability to carry out its corporate functions such as long-term workforce, IT and financial planning.

Improvements over the last year were limited by the absence and subsequent departure of the chief executive. The SPA chair, who had taken a more hands-on role, resigned earlier this month.

Caroline Gardner, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “There is still an absolute need to agree a fully shared understanding about what the SPA’s functions and responsibilities are, so that it can fulfil the role envisaged in legislation in 2012.

“There have been improvements, but considerable challenges remain. The SPA now needs a period of stability to build capacity and plan for a modern and financially stable police service.”

Justice Committee convener, Margaret Mitchell MSP, said: “The Justice Committee has been concerned about the SPA’s oversight of Police Scotland for some time, and has already considered a number of the issues raised in Audit Scotland’s report.

“As part of the committee’s post-legislative scrutiny of the 2012 act, underpinning policing arrangements in Scotland, it made recommendations about governance, and is continuing to monitor developments at the SPA closely.

“Members will take stock in the new year, and consider how, as parliamentarians, we can act most effectively to ensure that scrutiny of Police Scotland and the work carried out by the SPA is up to the standard the public has a right to expect.”