Police Accountability in Scotland: [1] the ‘New’ Tripartite System

Abstract

Police accountability in Scotland is examined in two aspects. First, the changing constitutional arrangements in Scotland are explored in terms of the tripartite system; local government reform, devolution, the Scottish Parliament and the new Justice Ministry. Comparisons are also made between the policing systems in Scotland and England and Wales, with respect to the police reforms of the 1990s. It is argued that recent constitutional change and central government policies have significantly increased centralisation of the policing function in Scotland by non-statutory means. The impact of these changes on police authorities, joint police boards and policing is evaluated.