Iain Livingstone named as Scotland's new chief constable appointed

The third chief constable of Police Scotland has been named as Iain Livingstone, the front-runner for the post and the interim leader since last autumn.

The Scot, who is seen as a safe pair of hands, will take up the role on August 27, for a term of four years, after abandoning his previous plans to retire.

He was the Deputy Chief Constable when he stepped into the shoes of Phil Gormley, who previously held the top job, after he went on special leave last September in the wake of bullying allegations.

Mr Livingstone, who was appointed to the £216,000 role by the Scottish Police Authority, was described as an “outstanding police leader”.

Susan Deacon, chairman of the SPA, added that she expected him, working with a strengthened leadership team, to provide “renewed stability, purpose and direction to Police Scotland after a demanding and challenging period”.

Mr Livingstone said he was “proud and humbled” by the appointment, adding: “It is a great responsibility and opportunity to lead a 22,000 strong team of dedicated and committed professionals, and to harness their ideas and potential in the service of the people of Scotland.

“Policing has been my life and the demands on it are developing faster today than at any time in my career. It is my job now to lead and drive change in policing to adapt to those challenges and to build on the values, ethos and traditions of policing in Scotland that first attracted me to this profession 26-years ago.”

He studied law at Aberdeen and Strathclyde universities and worked as a solicitor before joining the police in 1992.

Mr Livingstone becomes the third head of the national force following Mr Gormley, who left the force, denying any wrongdoing, before investigations into alleged gross misconduct were completed.

The first chief, Sir Stephen House, stepped down after the force was involved in a series of controversies and blunders.

Humza Yousaf, the Justice Minister, said the new chief had demonstrated he has “the right qualities to lead Police Scotland as the service continues to enhance its ability to tackle crime and keep people safe”.