Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025

  1. Introduction

  2. The Act – Background and Overview

  3. The Act – General Interpretative Matters

    1. Crown Application

    2. Interpretation

  4. The Act – Section by Section

    1. References to Acts

      1. Section 1: Meaning of “2006 Act” and “2012 Act”

    2. Ethics of the police

      1. Section 2: Code of ethics

      2. Section 3: Duty of candour

    3. Police vetting

      1. Section 4: Vetting code of practice

      2. Section 5: Procedures for vetting

    4. Police conduct

      1. Section 6: Liability of the Scottish Police Authority for unlawful conduct of the chief constable

    5. Misconduct procedures

      1. Section 7: Procedures for misconduct: functions of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner

      2. Section 8: Procedures for misconduct: former constables

      3. Section 9: Scottish police advisory list and Scottish police barred list

      4. Section 10: Procedures for misconduct: senior officers

      5. Section 11: Review of policies, practices and guidance relating to misconduct

    6. Functions of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner

      1. Section 12: Investigations into matters involving persons serving with the police

      2. Section 13: Complaints made by persons serving with the police

      3. Section 14: Complaint handling reviews

      4. Section 15: Call-in of relevant complaints

      5. Section 16: Review of arrangements for investigation of whistleblowing complaints

      6. Section 17: Investigations involving constables from outwith Scotland

      7. Section 18: Review of, and recommendations about, practices and policies of the police

      8. Section 19: Provision of information to the Commissioner

    7. Governance of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner

      1. Section 20: Advisory board to the Commissioner

    8. Final provisions

      1. Section 21: Ancillary provision

      2. Section 22: Commencement

      3. Section 23: Short title

  5. Parliamentary History