Police watchdog inspection brought forward amid 'secret society' claims

Mr Flanagan admitted to MSPs he did not pass on to other board members a letter sent to him by HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) Derek Penman questioning governance arrangements at the SPA and the decision to hold some of its meetings behind closed doors.

Read more: Police watchdog member quit over ‘SNP interference’

The SPA, which provides oversight of Police Scotland, has come under fire for a lack of transparency while concerns have also been expressed over the handling of the resignation of one board member who quit over the issue.

Mr Flanagan faced a torrent of questions from Holyrood's Public Audit, with Mr Matheson afterwards requesting HMICS bring forward part of a planned inspection into the operation of the SPA in respect of the organisation's transparency.

The Justice Secretary said: "Given the level of interest in these matters, I am seeking further assurance that all that can be done is being done.

"That is why I have written to HMICS asking them to bring forward part of their planned statutory inspection into the operation of the authority, scheduled for later this year, which relates to transparency.

"I look forward to receiving their findings in due course."

Read more: Police watchdog member quit over ‘SNP interference’

A spokesman for HMICS said Mr Penman had received the request and would provide a report within a month.

The spokesman said: "HMICS can confirm that a request has been received today from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to bring forward elements of its planned inspection of the Scottish Police Authority in relation to transparency and accountability."

Mr Matheson took action after MSPs were told a new governance framework approved by the SPA board following a review by Mr Flanagan has led to some committee meetings being held in private, with board papers only being made available on the day of the meeting.

SNP MSP Mr Neil said: "Every board member under the guidelines and under statute is entitled to know what the Chief Inspector of Constabulary is saying.

"These are very substantive points, very critical of the governance review in many respects."

He added: "This is not the Kremlin you are running, it is supposed to be an open public body, accountable ... you are accountable to the board members."

Read more: Police watchdog member quit over ‘SNP interference’

Mr Neil said the letter from Mr Penman raised questions over whether "decisions are being effectively made in private and nodded through in public".

"We have this secret society ... inside the board (of the SPA) ... deciding on transparency of governance and the whole thing is done without public knowledge, without people out there being able to hold this board to account, because this is all done deliberately behind closed doors to undermine the very principles of the transparency and accountability that the whole purpose of the review the Cabinet Secretary set up was designed to address," he added.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said there was a "culture of secrecy" within the SPA while Conservative MSP Ross Thomson suggested the organisation was "not fit for purpose", and asked if Mr Flanagan has "thought about his position at all".

On his failure to share the letter, Mr Flanagan said: "I think because the issues had been well-trailed, they had been well-known. I didn't think it was necessary to circulate the letter itself."

Addressing the question on whether the SPA was fit for purpose, he continued: "I think we've made a number of substantial movements within the last 12 months based on the governance review.

"I think we are becoming more effective, I think it is important that we recognise that there is already a high and significant degree of openness through the public board meetings that we have which are second to none in terms of public bodies in Scotland.

"In terms of progress, 2026 (the 2026 policing strategy) represents the first time that we have had a clear direction of travel for policing in Scotland.

"I think we are on a journey. Is it perfect? No, it's not perfect, but I think in the last 12 months or so there have been significant steps forward.

"I think we need to make sure that the board meetings aren't perfunctory or rubber-stamping, I think we need to have open discussion at those board meetings."

Read more: Police watchdog member quit over ‘SNP interference’

Mr Flanagan said he had not considered his position as chair, adding: "I believe that I am doing an effective job."

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Baillie, acting convener of the committee, said: "In the spirit of open and honest governance, we have called for the Scottish Police Authority to submit all of their meeting minutes to the committee as a matter of urgency."

The committee also intends to speak to past and present board members, including Moi Ali, the member who quit, and to Mr Penman as soon as possible, Ms Baillie said.

Following the meeting, the SPA released a statement from Mr Flanagan, noting the "strong views" from MSPs.

"I am committed to ensuring that the points made and issues raised by MSPs in today's Public Audit and Post Legislative Scrutiny Committee session, and those of other key stakeholders, are considered by the full SPA board at the earliest public opportunity," Mr Flanagan said.

"I will therefore be adding an item of further consideration of public and private SPA governance approaches to our next board agenda on May 25.

"As chair, I will be recommending to the board an early change to our framework to allow the various committee chairs the discretion to hold all or part of future SPA committees in public."

The issue of closed-door meetings at the SPA was also raised at Holyrood's Justice Sub-Committee on Policing.

Calum Steele, of the Scottish Police Federation which represents rank-and-file officers, said: "I fundamentally believe that it undermines its (the SPA's) legitimacy."