Search begins for new chief constable of Police Scotland following Iain Livingstone's retirement

The search has begun to find a replacement for Sir Iain Livingstone as chief constable of Police Scotland.

An advert advertising for an “exceptional police leader” was posted on Friday, with the job offering a salary of £232,452.

It comes after Livingstone announced last month his intention to retire in the summer of 2023.

He has been leading the UK’s second-largest police service on a permanent basis since 2018, having previously served in an interim capacity.

The search for his replacement is being led by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). A selection panel made up of policing leaders and Scottish Government officials will put candidates to the test.

Martyn Evans, chair of the SPA, said: “The chief constable of Police Scotland is one of the most significant policing roles in the UK.

“Ten years on from police reform we can look back on the last decade with conviction, knowing that efforts and challenges have delivered a service that is better than anything that preceded it. A solid foundation exists for that reform and improvement to continue.

“Police Scotland has a dedicated workforce and commands strong public support. The next chief constable must build on that support as the service continues to adapt to meet the needs of Scotland’s communities.”

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 28, with the authority expecting to announce a successful candidate in June 2023.

Livingstone’s retirement announcement in February came as he and SPA chief executive Lynn Brown presented a paper to an SPA board meeting warning that policing north of the border is “unsustainable”.

The paper said: “Police Scotland has often absorbed the impact of wider public sector financial challenges and is taking responsibility in situations where the police service is not the most appropriate service to respond.

“This position is unsustainable in the long-term and detracts from the ability to intervene effectively at the critical end of risk and harm.”

Livingstone warned there is “unprecedented financial pressures upon the public sector” and that “hard choices lie ahead to deliver effective policing within the revenue budget”.