Most senior civilian joins force as director

POLICE Scotland has appointed its most senior civilian ever to oversee its ongoing transformation.

The force’s ruling board unveiled David Page as its £173,010-a-year director of corporate services, strategy and change.

Sources stress that Mr Page, a former army officer and executive at Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Life, was the first civilian to answer directly to a chief constable in the history of Scottish policing.

Mr Page’s appointment brings an end to a dramatic period of change a the top of Police Scotland, which has replaced much of its senior executive team since the early retirement of Sir Stephen House at the end of last year.

Andrew Flanagan, chairman of the Scottish Police Authority, chaired the panel which selected Mr Page. He stressed that Mr Page had a “wealth of knowledge and experience of leading successful programmes of change in large organisations”.

Mr Flanagan added: “When I came into this role almost exactly a year ago, one of my top priorities was to take stock of the leadership of policing following the successful merger that created the single service, and refresh that to meet the wider challenges of changing demand and financial sustainability.

“That process began with the appointment of the Chief Constable, and working together we have now delivered new talent at deputy chief constable, assistant chief constable and director level. That gives us a strong blend of continuity and fresh ideas to shape the direction policing for the future.”

Aside from Chief Constable Phil Gormley, the SPA has appointed a deputy chief constable Iain Livingstone as Mr Gormley’s No. 2.

It has also appointed Johnny Gwynne as deputy chief constable for crime and operational support and three new assistant chief constables: Steve Johnson, John Hawkins and Mark Williams.