TOP COP: WE MADE MISTAKES
New chief admits Police Scotland policy was wrong
BY PAUL WARD SCOTLAND’S new police chief last night admitted his force have made mistakes dealing with local issues.
Iain Livingstone believes the single force got priorities wrong after being formed in 2013.
But he insisted they do not suffer from a culture of bullying and misogyny.
The chief constable admitted the force had tried to impose nationwide policies instead of allowing local solutions to problems.
He said: “I think, on my own personal reflection, that in the early years, we did value consistency, we did value compliance perhaps over local diversity. I think we recognise that and I want to build a more empowered and devolved organisation.”
Predecessor Phil Gormley went on leave during an investigation into alleged bullying, which he denied. Other senior officers have also been investigated.
Livingstone said: “We’ve just appointed five chief officers to the new team – three of them are women but other than gender, they have nothing else in common. They themselves are very diverse.
“Policing in Scotland is utterly committed to public service. It has a culture of service, of duty. Those are the strengths I want to build upon.”
Livingstone, who had planned to retire, has stood in since last September but was only confirmed as chief constable this week.
He added: “I want to continue to encourage the support for whistleblowing, I want to continue to encourage people to raise things, to speak openly.”