ANNOUNCING two new appointments at Police Scotland this week, Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said he had confidence in the leadership provided by his officers and staff. The new appointments were necessary, of course, because of the suspension of Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins, and DCC Livingstone said the focus would be on meeting the operational and organisational challenges the force faces and providing the leadership that the people of Scotland expect.
As police statements go, DCC Livingstone’s fairly sums up how policing should work – it relies on public consent based on confidence the force is doing the job well and fairly. The problem is that public confidence in Scotland has looked shaky because of recent events. As well as ACC Higgins, three other officers have been suspended; Chief Constable Phil Gormley is also on leave while allegations of misconduct are investigated; and the Scottish Police Authority has been accused of being spineless.
The good news is that the two new temporary Assistant Chief Constables are both good appointments. Gillian MacDonald and Alan Speirs are well-respected officers who would surely have become Assistant Chief Constables in due course anyway. The fact Temporary ACC Speirs will be in sole charge of professionalism in the force is also a sign an issue that has appeared to cause the force trouble is being put at the heart of its management; it is also a signal Police Scotland is taking this key issue seriously.
As for the suspensions of ACC Higgins and the other officers, due process and procedure has to be followed so everyone involved is protected, even though there are doubts among officers about the allegations against ACC Higgins. The claims include the suggestion he covered up for a fellow officer over an allegation that a police rucksack had been stolen. This, as with all the claims, must be thoroughly investigated.
However, the context could be significant. The SPA said it had formally referred misconduct allegations relating to ACC Higgins to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner having assessed that, if proven, they would constitute gross misconduct. But could it be that after months of being accused of being useless and supine, the SPA felt it needed to show teeth and one clear way of doing it was by suspending ACC Higgins?
Whatever the truth, the hope now is that the new temporary assistant chief constables will bring some stability to policing in Scotland. The appointment of the former Labour MSP Susan Deacon as the new chairwoman of the SPA is also a step forward.
Ms Deacon is an impressive and independent person who will take no nonsense from the Scottish Government, although there can be no doubt about the tough job she faces. In the light of recent events, everyone, especially the people Scotland’s police seek to protect and serve, will be watching to see if she can make a success of this difficult role .
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