The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has today, Friday 21 January announced the appointment of three new Assistant Chief Constables (ACC) to Police Scotland’s leadership team.
Emma Bond and Andy Freeburn will join Police Scotland from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Bex Smith will join the Service from the National Crime Agency.
The appointments follow a process of assessment, interview and selection conducted by the Authority. The appointments fill a number of leadership vacancies following recent retirements.
Announcing the appointment, Martyn Evans, Chair of the SPA said:
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Emma Bond, Andy Freeburn and Bex Smith as Assistant Chief Constables to Police Scotland. They are all accomplished police officers who bring a broad and complimentary range of skills to strengthen and support the Chief Constable and wider leadership team. I am confident they will make a significant contribution to policing in Scotland in the period ahead.”
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone QPM added:
“Emma, Andy and Bex will bring significant and diverse value and experience to policing in Scotland. I congratulate them on their appointment and welcome them to Police Scotland.
“They will join a stable team which is focused on public service and a shared mission to keep people safe.”
Emma Bond biography
Emma Bond is a Chief Superintendent with the Police Service of Northern Ireland with responsibilities as Head of Learning and Development. She is an experienced Divisional Commander, Public Order Gold Commander, Strategic Firearms Commander and the PSNI’s former Head of Innovation and Change.
Andy Freeburn biography
Andy Freeburn is a Chief Superintendent and the previous District Commander for Belfast within the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He is an experienced Public Order and Firearms Commander and a former Detective Chief Superintendent in Crime Operations Department, where he led significant crime and intelligence operations. He was awarded an MBE in 2020, for services to policing and the community.
Bex Smith biography
Bex Smith has been temporary Detective Chief Superintendent within Serious and Organised Crime at the National Crime Agency for the last two years. Prior to this she was Detective Superintendent at Surrey Police with responsibility for a major ICT change programme. She is an experienced Strategic and Tactical Firearms Commander.
Article initially published 21 January 2022
Additional Information
The Authority launched a recruitment campaign for Assistant Chief Constable’s (ACC) on 20 December 2021.
The appointment selection panel was chaired by Martyn Evans, Chair of the Authority, and comprised:
- Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable of Police Scotland
- Fiona McQueen, SPA Board Member
- Albert Tucker, independent panel member.
Gill Imery, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland was an advisor to the panel.
The salary for an Assistant Chief Constable within Police Scotland is £124,504.
Start dates for the new ACCs will be agreed in line with their current employment requirements and announced in due course.