Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012

39 The Scottish Police Authority’s annual report

(1) The Authority must prepare an annual report as soon as practicable after the end of each reporting year.

(2) An annual report is a report setting out—

(a) an assessment of the Authority’s performance during the reporting year in carrying out its functions,

(b) an assessment of the Police Service’s performance during the reporting year in the policing of Scotland, and

(c) such other information relating to the Authority’s functions, or to policing, as the Authority considers appropriate.

(3) An annual report must, in particular, contain––

(a) an assessment of the performance by the Authority and the Police Service during the reporting year in achieving, or in working towards achieving, the main objectives set out in the most recently approved strategic police plan (by reference, where appropriate, to outcomes identified in that plan), and

(b) an assessment of the performance by the Police Service during the reporting yearin implementing the proposed arrangements set out in the annual police plan for the period to which the report relates.

(4) The chief constable must—

(a) within 3 months of the end of a reporting year, provide the Authority with a report setting out the chief constable’s assessment of the Police Service’s performance during that reporting year in the policing of Scotland, and

(b) provide the Authority with such other assistance as it may reasonably require in relation to the preparation of an annual report.

(5) A report provided by the chief constable under subsection (4)(a) must, in particular, contain the chief constable’s assessment of the Police Service’s performance during the reporting year concerned—

(a) in achieving, or in working towards achieving, the main objectives for the policing of Scotland set out in the most recently approved strategic police plan (by reference, where appropriate, to outcomes identified in that plan), and

(b) in implementing the proposed arrangements set out in the annual police plan for the reporting year concerned.

(6) The Authority must—

(a) publish each of its annual reports 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),

(b) provide a copy of each of its annual reports to the Scottish Ministers, and

(c) lay a copy of each of its annual reports before the Scottish Parliament.

(7) In this section “reporting year” means a yearly period ending on 31 March.