About us - FAQs

The Police Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 as amended by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 gives the Commissioner powers to conduct investigations where directed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) or when requested to do so by the Chief Constable or Scottish Police Authority (SPA).

In addition, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Investigations Procedure, Serious Incidents and Specified Weapons) Regulations 2013 provide additional powers to deal with referrals by the Chief Constable or SPA.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 extended PIRC’s remit to investigate a constable/member/officer/official with:

• British Transport Police (BTP)

• Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC),

• Police Service of Scotland (PSoS)

• Scottish Police Authority (SPA)

• National Crime Agency (NCA)

• Ministry of Defence Police (MDP)

• His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

• UK Border Force

• UK Visas and Immigration

• Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR)

The Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2007 allows PIRC to review the handling of complaints by the above policing bodies.

The Commissioner is also provided with powers in The Police Service of Scotland (Senior Officers) Conduct Regulations 2013 which allow for members of the Commissioner's staff to investigate in the conduct of senior officers of the rank of Assistant Chief Constable and above.

PIRC has no punitive powers. However, we do report our findings back to the policing body with any relevant recommendations to implement.

We notify the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service when any evidence of criminality is found.

Investigations

Where appropriate, some of our Investigation reports will provide feedback and highlight any opportunities for organisational learning that we identify during the investigation.

This could include improving or reviewing police standard operating procedures or policies.

Many of our reports are confidential and we are unable to comment or publish them.

Complaint Handling Reviews

If, during a Complaint Handling Review, we identify failings, shortcomings or deficiencies in the way the policing body has handled your complaint, we may issue a recommendation.

A recommendation may ask the policing body to carry out further enquiries into your complaint, provide you with a more detailed response or even re-assess the available evidence based on the findings of our report.

In some cases, we may issue a reconsideration direction. This means that we have concluded that your complaint must be looked at again in full.

In all cases, we look for learning opportunities for the police so that their standard of complaint handling can be improved in the future.

PIRC like other police oversight bodies, employs a blend of staff drawn from police and non-police backgrounds. It is part of our policy to recruit people from different backgrounds to provide balance and diversity.

This includes investigators with relevant policing investigative experience. To be an effective investigative body, PIRC requires to have investigators with relevant policing investigative experience who understand and have worked in a policing environment, including areas involving specialist skills and expertise in dealing with situations such as:

• deaths in custody
• crime scene management
• road traffic matters
• firearms incidents
• family liaison support

As of 1 July 2025 (these stats are updated on a quarterly basis):

• 52% of the PIRC's staff do not have previous experience as police officers.
• 48% do come from a policing background.
• 60% of staff within the Investigations Team previously served as an officer and 9% worked in a civilian role with one of the former Scottish legacy or current UK forces.