Police Scotland appoints Jo Farrell as first female chief

Police Scotland has announced the appointment of its first female chief constable.

Jo Farrell, the current chief constable of Durham Constabulary, will replace Sir Iain Livingstone, who is retiring in August.

Last month Sir Iain admitted the force was institutionally racist and discriminatory.

It came after a review uncovered first-hand accounts of racism, sexism and homophobia by serving officers.

Sir Iain said prejudice and bad behaviour within Police Scotland was "rightly of great concern" but he stressed that his admission did not mean individual officers and staff were racist or sexist.

He also expressed pride and confidence in their work.

Ms Farrell became the Durham Constabulary's first female chief constable in 2019, having previously been assistant chief constable at Northumbria Police.

She was in charge in Durham during its high-profile "beergate" investigation into Labour leader Keir Starmer, who was cleared of any wrongdoing following allegation he breached coronavirus rules.

Ms Farrell also led the force during Dominic Cummings' infamous trip to Barnard Castle, County Durham, during the height of the Covid pandemic.

She was appointed to her new role by the Scottish Police Authority.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who approved the appointment, said Ms Farrell "has shown she has the skills needed to lead the service".

Ms Farrell described the new role as a "unique opportunity to take on one of the most exciting and challenging jobs in UK policing".

She will have responsibility for 23,000 officers and staff in what is the UK's second largest police force.

Born on the Wirral, in Merseyside, she joined the police in 1991 as a constable in Cambridge, spending five years in the city before promotion.

She joined Northumbria Police in 2002, initially as a chief inspector, before being promoted to assistant chief constable.

Sir Iain is to step down this summer after five years as chief constable.

He said: "Leading our outstanding officers and staff as Scotland's chief constable is an enormous privilege. I have great confidence Jo will continue to develop our service to protect and serve our fellow citizens."

Ms Constance said Sir Iain "leaves Police Scotland in great shape after leading it through unprecedented times".

The force is currently investigating what happened to more than £600,000 of donations given to the SNP by independence activists.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon was arrested and released without charge as part of the probe on Sunday.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesperson Jamie Greene said that the incoming chief constable has "an incredibly tough job on her hands" due to "SNP underfunding".

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur added: "Jo Farrell's appointment is a chance to inject localism back into the service, boost mental health support and protect policing budgets to keep communities safe."

Police Scotland's new commanding officer is an outsider not an insider, and that will be one of the reasons for her surprise appointment.

Jo Farrell's only rival was the force's widely respected Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham.

He's been a chief constable-in-waiting for years and would have been the continuity candidate.

But when the outgoing chief declared the force was institutionally racist and discriminatory, Sir Iain Livingstone was asked why he hadn't sorted it out in his five years in charge, and to an extent those same questions would have been levelled at DCC Graham.

Instead, Jo Farrell can be portrayed as a new broom who will accelerate the pace of change at the force.

She also brings experience of a high-pressure investigation into top level politicians and has made good use of limited resources, both of which will come in handy.

But Durham Constabulary is one of the smallest forces in Britain. Police Scotland is the second biggest.

It is a truly spectacular leap up the career ladder that brings with it huge challenges.