Sir Iain Livingstone QPM has set out his intention to retire as Chief Constable of Police Scotland at a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority in Glasgow today, February 23, 2023.

Sir Iain said:

“By my last day in service, I will have been a police officer for 31 years and had the privilege of serving as Chief Constable for nearly six of those years.

“Police Scotland is an organisation with shared values and high levels of operational competence. The service improvements achieved in our 10 years are unprecedented across the United Kingdom public sector, delivering effective policing for the public.

“We now have a full leadership team with the experience and capability to continue the progress made and can take confidence from the exceptional role Police Scotland played through Covid, COP26 and the events following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

“The police officers and police staff of Police Scotland are outstanding. Leading them as Chief Constable to serve the people of Scotland has been the honour of my working life.”

Martyn Evans, Chair of the Authority said:

"Sir Iain has been integral to delivering the vision of a single national police service and transforming policing over the last decade. In doing so, he has shown great imagination, courage and created stability. He has led the Service with dignity, grace and distinction through significant major events and challenges. We are immensely grateful for his contribution and leadership."  

You can watch the Chief Constable address the Authority, and the Chair Martyn Evans, respond to his announcement at the following link:  Chair Martyn Evans thanks Sir Iain for his outstanding service

Sir Iain will retire in the summer of 2023.

Article initially published 23 February 2023

Sir Iain Livingstone

Sir Iain has led the single national Service for six years, as interim Chief from 2017 before being formally appointed as Chief Constable in 2018. A summary of his career is available on the Police Scotland website here.