Latest News

Seventh Issue of Emerge Published

Emerge is the regular update for policing and the wider criminal justice community on the work of the SPSA. Emerge is now presented in new interactive PDF format.

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Plans unveilled to speed up forensic support for Scottish police

SPSA Forensic Services has today published proposals to improve the speed, consistency, and cost effectiveness of forensic analysis in Scotland.

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Scots Police Training Revamp puts Emphasis on Hands-On Experience

Scotland’s new police recruits are to complete their formal training faster, and experience more operational time on the streets as part of the largest shake up of probationer training in recent years.

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What SPSA is for

We are an organisation that is independent of the police but understands policing. One in five of our staff are police officers seconded from Scotland's police forces. That's evidence of the commitment Scottish policing makes to us.

In return, SPSA staff are committed to supporting each and every police officer to make the best of their time and talent in the protection and service of the public.

From the training they receive to make it onto our streets, to the technology they use when they are out there. From the intelligence they need to progress an investigation, to the evidence gathering needed to secure a conviction. From the expertise needed to take out a local cannabis farm, to the international partnerships needed to disrupt a money laundering scheme.

Police officers are just one of the professional groups within criminal justice we work in partnership with. The systems we manage and the information we share support fiscals, court staff, prison officers, local authorities and children's reporters among others.

There are two overarching aims for SPSA. First, we provide our customers - currently Scottish policing and COPFS - with the confidence that the core services they require are delivered professionally and effectively.

Second, we work to meet the Scottish Government's expectation that as a public body we will keep costs down and deliver efficient services for the public purse.

In short, we are here to ensure the services we provide fit the needs of our customers, and are fit for purpose in terms of quality and cost.