Governance
The Scottish Police Services Authority is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). Such bodies have a role in the process of national Government but are not a government department, nor part of one and operate at arm's length from Ministers. However, Ministers are ultimately accountable for the organisation's activities.
As a NDPB the SPSA is governed by a Board appointed by Ministers and which consists of Join Police Board Conveners, 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.
With a national remit and a Board appointed by Ministers, SPSA as a NDPB employs its own staff and manages its own budgets.
The Scottish Police Services Authority Board, chaired by Convener Vic Emery, provides good corporate governance, and supports the Chief Executive, to ensure that the organisation is held to account for its actions.