Chief constable resigns immediately from post

Phil Gormley steps down, saying he can’t resume duties ‘in a meaningful way’

Scotland’s under-fire chief constable has said it would be “impossible” for him to resume policing duties as he resigned from the post with immediate effect.

Phil Gormley had been on special leave since September amid investigations into claims of gross misconduct.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said he hoped Mr Gormley’s departure would allow the force “to move forward”.

The independent Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) had received five misconduct referrals regarding Mr Gormley from the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the police oversight body.

Mr Gormley has always denied any wrongdoing.

In a statement he said “events since November 2017 have led me to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to resume my duties in a meaningful way prior to the end of my contract”.

He added: “I now need to prioritise the health and well-being of my family on whom these events have taken a significant toll.”

Mr Gormley had been told by the SPA in November that he could return to work, but that decision was reversed after the justice secretary questioned “clear deficiencies” in the body’s decision-making process.

Mr Matheson was heavily criticised by Mr Gormley’s lawyer David Morgan, who said there was “no lawful basis” for the intervention.

In a statement at Holyrood, he said: “I respect the decision of the chief constable and hope this enables policing in Scotland to move forward with a clear focus on delivering the long-term strategy Policing 2026 that Phil Gormley helped to develop.

“I’ve spoken with Susan Deacon, chair of the Scottish Police Authority, which will undertake the process of appointing a new chief constable.

“Professor Deacon informed me yesterday that the SPA were in discussions with the chief constable’s representatives regarding his future and provided assurance that the appropriate process was being followed.

“I am very clear that my actions in questioning the SPA on November 9 were entirely appropriate, indeed were expected of me.”

The SPA said Mr Gormley was not required to work his contractual notice period. He will receive a payment in respect of his salary for his three-month notice period and his outstanding annual leave entitlement.

Pirc said all misconduct investigations regarding Mr Gormley will now come to an end, and reports containing the information gathered to date will be submitted to the SPA.

It is to be hoped the resignation of chief constable Phil Gormley will at last signal the start of a much-needed new chapter for Police Scotland. Formed in 2013 on the rather inauspicious date of April 1, critics would be quick to suggest the single force has been something of a joke ever since.

The organisation has been beset by problems and has, at times, come dangerously close to losing public confidence completely amid a range of gaffes, not to mention the perceived loss of local accountability.

Mr Gormley finally threw in the towel yesterday some eight months after the first in what eventually amounted to a series of allegations of misconduct were made against him.

He had been on “special leave” — complete with handsome salary — since autumn of last year and has now decided a return to duties “in a meaningful way” would be impossible.

The rights and wrongs of Mr Gormley’s behaviour while in office may not ever be fully known, but his decision to leave can surely be welcomed as an opportunity to wipe the slate clean.

Few things are more crucial to the wellbeing of a nation than an effective yet accountable police force.

Those things must now be the twin priorities as Police Scotland makes fresh attempts to emerge from the shadows of its recent, troubled past.

Picture: PA. Phil Gormley says the past eight months have been particularly tough for his family.