First woman appointed to role.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance has welcomed the appointment of Jo Farrell as Police Scotland’s first female Chief Constable.
The current Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary, Ms Farrell was appointed by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) following a robust six-week assessment process and will take up the post later this year, replacing Sir Iain Livingstone QPM, who is retiring in August.
I am delighted that Jo Farrell has been appointed as Police Scotland’s new Chief Constable following the Scottish Police Authority’s rigorous selection process.
ANGELA CONSTANCE, JUSTICE SECRETARY
Jo is the first women to be appointed to this role. As the force marks its 10th anniversary year, she has shown she has the skills needed to lead the service into the next decade and meet the challenges ahead.
Thanks to the dedication and work of the police, recorded crime rates overall are at record low levels and we have a service that is unique in the UK with an embedded human rights focus.
Policing will continue to be an absolute priority for this government, as evidenced by the £1.45 billion we have allocated to support it in 2023-24. I look forward to working with the new Chief Constable as the service continues to build on its significant strengths.
I also want to pay tribute to Sir Iain for his bold leadership and wider service to keeping communities safe during a lengthy, distinguished career in policing. He leaves Police Scotland in great shape after leading it through unprecedented times.
This really is a day of mixed emotions. I am immensely proud to have served as Chief Constable of Durham and equally proud of everything the force has achieved over that time.
JO FARRELL
Over the last six years, I have worked with some extraordinarily talented and committed people, dedicated to keeping County Durham and Darlington safe, and it has been a very difficult decision to leave.
But as Chief Constable of Police Scotland I have been offered a unique opportunity to take on one of the most exciting and challenging jobs in UK policing.
Background
The Scottish Police Authority appointment was approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on behalf of Scottish Ministers, as set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
