The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has announced the appointment of Gillian MacDonald, Angie McLaren and Alan Speirs as Assistant Chief Constables (ACC) within Police Scotland’s leadership team.
Susan Deacon, Chair of the SPA said:”Supporting and strengthening the leadership of policing in Scotland is a top priority for the SPA. That is why I am delighted to announce the appointment of Gillian MacDonald, Angie McLaren and Alan Speirs as Assistant Chief Constables within Police Scotland. These individuals are accomplished police leaders in Scotland and will, I am sure, make a significant contribution to shaping and developing Police Scotland in the period to come.
“These appointments are a further step forward in building stability, direction and confidence in our police service as it continues to rapidly adapt and change.”
Gillian MacDonald is currently Police Scotland’s Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Crime and Protection. This includes Public Protection, Local Crime & Forensics, Major Crime and Safer Communities.
Gillian has been an officer for over 28 years having joined Strathclyde Police in 1990. She spent her early career in uniform roles in Glasgow before moving into Divisional CID in proactive and reactive roles. She then moved on to the position of DCI at SCDEA with responsibility for Cyber, International Liaison, Witness Liaison, Covert Authorities Bureau, Forensics and Assisting Offenders.
She was appointed Area Commander at Gorbals where she set up the Govanhill Hub, a local collaborative neighbourhood team which deals with local issues based in the heart of the community. Gillian also served as Divisional Commander in Ayrshire where she introduced a successful Prevention First partnership initiative which was responsible for driving down violent crime across Ayrshire.
Angie McLaren is currently Chief Superintendent with responsibility for Organisational Development and Corporate Governance at Police Scotland. Prior to this, Angie played a significant role in the development, consultation and publication of the Policing 2026 Strategy laid in Parliament last year.
She has been an officer for almost 22-years having joined Fife Constabulary in 1996. She was promoted to Superintendent and posted to Police Scotland Tayside Division in 2014. She was promoted to Chief Superintendent in 2015 where she was appointed Divisional Commander for Fife Division. Angie has experience as a strategic Firearms and Events Commander covering large scale events such as T in the Park.
Alan Speirs is currently Temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Professionalism and Assurance in Police Scotland. This includes Professional Standards, Legal Services and the Governance, Audit & Assurance Department.
He has been an officer for almost 30 years having joined Strathclyde Police in the summer of 1988. In 2009 he was promoted to Superintendent and appointed Head of Force Communications. In 2011, he was promoted to Chief Superintendent within Operational Support Division before taking up post as Local Police Commander for K Division and then as Commander of Contact, Command and Control.
During his service he has spent four years on external secondment firstly with Glasgow City Council before taking up appointment as Assistant Chief Executive with an Economic Development and Regeneration Company. In 2016, he became the Head of Professional Standards at Police Scotland with responsibility for complaints, conduct, corruption and policy.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
