Police Scotland’s new Chief Constable Phil Gormley takes up post

Getting out and listening to officers and staff from across Police Scotland will be the focus for Scotland’s new Chief Constable Phil Gormley.

Alongside this, in his first 100 days, the Chief Constable has made a priority of engaging with local government leaders and key partners to hear their views of policing in Scotland first hand.

Highlighting today (Tuesday 5th January) his commitment to focus on officers and staff, Police Scotland’s new Chief Constable used his first opportunity in the job to talk to Scotland’s new generation of police officers, meeting probationers undertaking training at Tulliallan in preparation for their taking up vital policing roles across Scotland’s communities.

The Chief Constable officially took up the post following a brief ceremony at the Police Scotland College at Tulliallan this morning where he was ‘sworn in’ by Sheriff Principal Marysia Lewis.

Mr Gormley said: “It is an honour to have been selected to lead Police Scotland and I am acutely aware of the significant responsibility and expectation that comes with the role of Chief Constable, Police Scotland.

“This is one of the most demanding jobs in British policing and I feel immensely proud to have been chosen to lead the men and women of Police Scotland through the next stage of its journey.

“Today I met officers who, like me, are starting their careers with Police Scotland. Over the next weeks and months, I will be talking and listening to, not only Police Scotland officers and staff but also our partners, to help inform how we respond to the challenges the service faces. The professional judgement and discretion of these officers and their colleagues across the country will be critical in meeting these challenges.

“Much has been achieved in the first few years of Police Scotland but there is still more to be done – and I recognise the importance the public and partners place on the level of service we provide.

“There is no doubt we are in a challenging financial environment – despite the savings already made, it is my responsibility working with colleagues to deliver the best service possible with the available resources. This will require difficult decisions but I am determined that we will develop a service the public trust and have confidence in and which our officers and staff are proud to provide.

“It will be vital that we work closely with all our partners to ensure that we make the best possible use of public resources to provide the service and protection that the people and communities of Scotland have a right to expect.”

The Chief Constable was joined at the swearing in ceremony by the Scottish Police Authority Chairman Andrew Flanagan.

Mr Flanagan said: “The appointment by the SPA of Phil Gormley as Chief Constable of Police Scotland is a key part of the next phase of change for policing, and we welcome him taking up the reins this week. We have secured the best candidate to build on the progress that policing in Scotland has already made, and to address the issues and challenges that the service faces.

”The recent budget announcement by the Scottish Government demonstrates welcome support for police funding next year and provides an encouraging base on which the SPA and the new Chief Constable can build.

“With the SPA governance review also due to report in March and the Scottish Government consulting the public on policing priorities, there is now a major opportunity in the early part of 2016 to shape the future direction of policing with the active participation and involvement of the police workforce, partners and local communities.”