Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB)
A: A NDPB is a national or regional public body, carrying out its day-to-day functions independently of Ministers, but for which Ministers are ultimately accountable.
With a national remit and a Board appointed by Ministers, SPSA as a NDPB employs its own staff and manages its own budgets.
Q: What is the SPSA Board?
A: SPSA is governed by a tri-partite Board appointed by Ministers and consists of Join Police Board Convenors, Chief Constables and Lay members. The Convener (Chair) of the Board is a Lay member appointed through the public appointments process. The Chief Executive of the SPSA reports to the board.
Q: Are you part of the police force?
A: We are an organisation that is independent of the police but understands policing. SPSA was set up as a Non-Departmental Public Body and was created to provide Scotland with a range of vital services to support and enhance the effectiveness of modern policing and the wider criminal justice system In Scotland. To do this we work in partnership with our colleagues in each of the Scottish police forces and other associated agencies throughout the country.
Q: Do you have to be a police officer to join the Scottish Police Services Authority?
No. Although SPSA provides support services to the police, the majority of our staff are not police officers. SPSA offers a wide range of both general and specialist posts including:
- Administration
- Compliance
- Corporate Communications
- Finance
- Forensic Services
- Human Resources
- Planning & Performance
- Procurement
- Facilities & Estates
- Information and Communication Technology
- Intelligence
Some specialist roles may be carried out by police officers. In these cases the police officers will be seconded to SPSA from their police force for a specified period of time.