This abridged report has been drawn from a comprehensive document, by the same authors, which provides a fuller chronology and observational analysis of views on the emergent system of governance and accountability of policing in Scotland. Given the complexity of the subject and its evolution over the past 50 years, or so, this abridged report aims to cut to the core of the issues as they may apply to the current debate on policing reform. In a similar fashion, the chronology, contained in the appendix to the abridged report, has been shortened.

Both the abridged and full reports have been compiled with the intention of highlighting weaknesses in police governance and accountability which have perpetuated since the 1962 Royal Commission1 and which, it is contended, must be redressed in supporting any future model of policing for Scotland.

By its nature, the abridged report contains truncated arguments and readers are advised to refer to the full version to explore the extended rationale and logic, where they deem that appropriate.

Neither report is deemed to be conclusive; however, the intent is to open debate on the key issues, rather than to resolve them.

That said, and for ease, some conclusions and issues to be addressed going forward, are set out at pages 14‐18 of the attached document.