A former judges' watchdog, a top lawyer and a veteran local government policymaker are amongst the prominent names who have been appointed to conduct a review into police accountability.
Scottish Police Authority (SPA) chairman Andrew Flanagan has unveiled the reference group that will inform his review of governance in policing.
The review was ordered following multiple controversies including widespread use of stop-and-search, a roll-out of armed police throughout Scotland, the death in custody of Sheku Bayoh, control room problems linked to two deaths on the M9, a spiralling budget shortfall, and the early departure of inaugural Chief Constable Sir Stephen House.
The reference group includes Moi Ali, who handled complaints against judges as Scotland's first Judicial Complaints Reviewer before she resigned complaining the role was toothless and poorly funded.
Christine McLintock, the president of the Law Society of Scotland who recently challenged the Scottish Government over changes to legal aid, has also been appointed.
Pat Watters, the former long-serving president of council umbrella body Cosla, is also on the group in parallel with his role as chairman of the Scottish Fire Board - which carries out a similar scrutiny function to the SPA.
Other review group members include Margaret Kennedy, chair of Fife Council's Safer Communities Committee; Angela Scott, chief executive of Aberdeen City Council; Professor Nick Fyfe, director of the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR); SPA chief executive John Foley and SPA board member David Hume.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson gave Mr Flanagan the immediate task of reviewing police governance when he was appointed to replace former SPA chairman Vic Emery two months ago.
The review group appointments were posted on the SPA website on Monday but not widely distributed.
The first meeting of the reference group takes place in private later this month. The chair is expected to report the findings of the review in March.
Labour justice spokesman Graeme Pearson said: "The SPA is supposed to be a tough watchdog for policing in Scotland but in reality it has been a timid lapdog for years.
"There is pressure on this review to really speak truth to power and clarify what is going wrong in our police force.
"It is disappointing that it has taken two months since this review was announced for members of the panel to be revealed.
"There has been a crisis of confidence in Scottish policing and the last thing the authorities need now is the perception that they are dragging their heels.
"The SNP Justice Minister should be questioning why it has taken so long to set this review up, and be willing to answer for the choices the SNP Government in Edinburgh have made."
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