Police Scotland appoints Jo Farrell as first female chief constable
Jo Farrell, who has been the chief constable of Durham Constabulary since 2019, will replace Sir Iain Livingstone, who will retire this August.
Wednesday 14 June 2023 14:17, UK
Police Scotland has appointed its first female chief constable.
Jo Farrell will replace Sir Iain Livingstone, who will retire this August.
Ms Farrell has been the chief constable of Durham Constabulary since 2019, where she was the first woman to hold the post in the force's 180-year history.
She said: "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.
"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."
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Ms Farrell was appointed by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) following a robust six-week assessment process.
Sir Iain, who announced his intention to stand down back in February, said he would work with his successor to ensure an effective handover to "maintain stability in Police Scotland".
He added: "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."
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The appointment is for a fixed term of four years and Ms Farrell will earn an annual salary of £232,452 as Police Scotland's boss.
Scotland's justice secretary, Angela Constance, who approved the SPA's appointment, said she was "delighted".
She added: "Jo is the first woman 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."
Ms Constance also paid tribute to Sir Iain, noting his "bold leadership".
She said: "He leaves Police Scotland in great shape after leading it through unprecedented times."