The Scottish Police Authority has today (Wednesday 14 June), announced the appointment of Jo Farrell as the next Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

Jo Farrell has been the Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary since 2019.

The announcement follows the news in March that the current Chief Constable, Sir Iain Livingstone QPM will retire in August 2023.

The appointment was made by the Authority and approved by Scottish Ministers in accordance with the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and follows a robust assessment and selection process. The appointment will be for a fixed term of 4-years with the possibility of extension in line with legislation.

Martyn Evans, Chair of the Authority and the Selection Panel who interviewed candidates for the role, announced the appointment saying:

“I am delighted to have had such an excellent calibre of applicants to this important role and now announce the appointment of Jo Farrell as the next Chief Constable of Police Scotland.

“Jo is an outstanding and highly experienced senior police leader who has made an exceptional contribution to policing over her extensive career. With a proven history of innovative policing, Ms Farrell has led Durham Constabulary for the last 4-years where it was graded as ‘outstanding’ for its disruption of organised crime and how it achieves value for money. She also has UK wide experience heading the demanding Digital Data and Technology portfolio for the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

“As Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Jo Farrell will bring exceptional professionalism, building on the high level of policing operational stability and effectiveness achieved in recent years and further accelerate the culture change programmes. I look forward to working with her.”

Jo Farrell said:

“This really is a day of mixed emotions. I am immensely proud to have served as Chief Constable of Durham and equally proud of everything the force has achieved over that time.

“Over the last six years, I have worked with some extraordinarily talented and committed people, dedicated to keeping County Durham and Darlington safe, and it has been a very difficult decision to leave.

“But as Chief Constable of Police Scotland I have been offered a unique opportunity to take on one of the most exciting and challenging jobs in UK policing.”

Police Scotland’s current Chief Constable, Sir Iain Livingstone QPM added:

“I congratulate Jo Farrell and look forward to working with her to ensure an effective handover that will maintain stability in Police Scotland.

“Leading our outstanding officers and staff as Scotland’s Chief Constable is an enormous privilege. I have great confidence Jo will continue to develop our service to protect and serve our fellow citizens.”

Craig Naylor, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland, has welcomed the appointment of Jo Farrell as the next Chief Constable of Scotland:

“I was invited to provide assurance that the process was fair, open and transparent and have written to the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority confirming this and recognising the significant investment the candidates brought to this process and the high standards that they demonstrated.

“I would like to extend my congratulations to the next Chief Constable and look forward to building on close and effective relationships between Police Scotland and HMICS while we all strive to improve policing across Scotland.”

Biography of Jo Farrell

After graduating with a degree in Business at Sheffield Polytechnic, in 1991, Jo Farrell achieved her childhood ambition by joining the police as a constable in Cambridge. In 2002, she joined Northumbria Police, initially as a Chief Inspector, before being promoted to Assistant Chief Constable, with responsibility for response and neighbourhood policing as well as the communications department.

Jo joined Durham Constabulary in November 2016 as Deputy Chief Constable. She was appointed Chief Constable in 2019, the first woman to hold the post in the force’s 180-year history.

Throughout her time at the helm, Durham Constabulary has placed a renewed focus on tackling high harm offences such as violent crime, sexual offences, domestic abuse and launched a radical new approach to the investigation of rape and serious sexual offences. The force was rated outstanding for efficiency in its most recent HMICFRS inspection.

On a national level, she works on behalf of the National Police Chiefs Council as chair of the Digital Data and Technology Co-ordination Committee.

Further Information

The Chief Constable of Police Scotland is accountable to the SPA and is responsible for the direction and control of more than 22,500 officers and staff delivering community and specialist policing services to more than 5 million people in cities and towns and across rural and island communities. The Chief Constable is also responsible for managing annual resources of more than £1.35 billion.

The post of Chief Constable of Police Scotland was advertised across the UK and was open to all applicants who met the statutory eligibility criteria.

The assessment process for shortlisted candidates included:

• A policing professional peer review
• Psychometric testing
• Facilitated discussions with internal and external stakeholder panels which included staff associations and trade unions and those representing the public, private and third sectors about the impact of policing on different communities.
• A media exercise
• A final interview with the selection panel.

The appointment panel was chaired by Martyn Evans, Chair of the SPA and included:

• Fiona McQueen CBE, Board Member of the Scottish Police Authority
• Angela Scott, Chief Executive Aberdeen City Council, Independent Member
• Joe Griffin, Director-General, Scottish Government
• Martin Hewitt QPM, [Former] Chair, National Police Chiefs Council
• Craig Naylor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland

Lynn Brown OBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Authority observed discussions with candidates.

The Authority is responsible for appointing the Chief Constable and the appointment must be approved by Scottish Ministers as required by the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.

As Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Jo Farrell will earn a salary of £232,452. The appointment will be for a fixed term of 4-years with the possibility of extension in accordance with legislation.