(1)The Authority must prepare a strategic police plan.
(2)A strategic police plan is a plan which—
(a)sets outs the main objectives for the Authority and for the policing of Scotland,
(b)explains the reasons for selecting each main objective,
(c)describes what the Authority considers should be done by it or by the Police Service in order to achieve the main objectives,
(d)where reasonably practicable, identifies outcomes by reference to which the achievement of the main objectives may be measured, and
(e)includes any other information connected with the Authority’s functions, or policing, which the Authority considers appropriate.
(3)Before preparing a strategic police plan, the Authority must make arrangements for obtaining views on what the plan should contain from persons whom it considers likely to have an interest in policing.
(4)The Authority must involve the chief constable in the preparation of a strategic police plan and the chief constable must provide the Authority with such assistance as it may reasonably require in that regard.
(5)When preparing a strategic police plan, the Authority must—
(a)send a copy of a draft plan to—
(i)each local authority,
(ii)the inspectors of constabulary, and
(iii)such other persons as the Authority considers likely to have an interest in the plan,
(b)invite the recipients to comment on the draft plan within such reasonable period as the Authority may specify, and
(c)have regard to any comments received within that period.
(6)The Authority must—
(a)submit its strategic police plan to the Scottish Ministers, and
(b)use its best endeavours to secure their approval of the plan (with or without modifications).
(7)If the Scottish Ministers approve a strategic police plan submitted to them, the Authority must—
(a)publish the approved plan in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate (having regard to the desirability of it being accessible to those whom the Authority considers likely to have an interest in it), and
(b)lay a copy of it before the Scottish Parliament.
(8)The Authority—
(a)must review an approved strategic police plan at least once every 3 years (and must, in particular, do so where the strategic police priorities have been significantly revised), and
(b)following such a review, must—
(i)prepare a replacement strategic police plan, or
(ii)notify the Scottish Ministers that, having undertaken a review, the Authority has concluded that there is no need to replace the existing strategic police plan.
(9)Subsections (3) to (8), and section36, apply in relation to a replacement strategic police plan as they applied in relation to the plan being replaced.