ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of contemporary Scottish policing. The most obvious features of any policing system are the types of structure which shape it and the ways in which it organises itself to carry out its stated functions. As in any public service, structure and organisation are key aspects of policing in Scotland because they relate to issues such as the nature of local and national organisation and the balance between them; the different roles carried out by people who inhabit the service and how these relate to each other; issues of governance, finance and purpose; and matters around quality and effectiveness and public satisfaction. A summary of essential facts and figures about the police in Scotland is provided in Table 2.1.
