Scotland
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) is independent of the Scottish Government. HMICS was established by the Police (Scotland) Act 1857 and is responsible for inspections of the eight Scottish territorial police forces, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, the Scottish Criminal Record Office, the Scottish Police College and the Scottish Police Information Strategy.
Paddy Tomkins, the former Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, was the last appointed Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland in 2007. On Paddy Tomkins retirement in April 2009 Bill Skelly was appointed Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland. This move from an Chief Inspector to Inspector of Constabulary has not been without controversy, with some Scottish Chief Constables objecting to the change.
Until 1 April 2007 HMIC was also responsible for dealing with complaints against the police; since then non-criminal complaints have been dealt with by the Police Complaints Commissioner, following the passing of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. HMIC has no authority to deal with complaints against Chief Police Officers.
The Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 provides a statutory duty of inspection of British Transport Police operations in Scotland.
Read more about this topic: Her Majesty's Inspectorate Of Constabulary
Famous quotes containing the word scotland:
“A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless.”
—James I of England, James VI of Scotland (1566–1625)
“The “second sight” possessed by the Highlanders in Scotland is actually a foreknowledge of future events. I believe they possess this gift because they don’t wear trousers.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)
“Four and twenty at her back
And they were a’ clad out in green;
Tho the King of Scotland had been there
The warst o’ them might hae been his Queen.
On we lap and awa we rade
Till we cam to yon bonny ha’
Whare the roof was o’ the beaten gold
And the floor was o’ the cristal a’.”
—Unknown. The Wee Wee Man (l. 21–28)