A diplomat hired to boost Police Scotland's image and improve the force's standing with politicians has quit, triggering fears of an exodus at the top of the organisation.

Darren Burgess, who left a plum job in Washington to become the force's Head of Strategic Engagement, is to leave after less than a year in post.

Burgess joined the force in April amid a spate of negative headlines about cuts to the police budget.

The job specification contained numerous "objectives" and "functions", including enhancing the Service's corporate image and identity and representing the force at a national level.

He was also expected to "continually expand" contact with the Scottish Government, Holyrood, think tanks and political advisors.

However, Police Scotland's reputation has taken a battering in the last twelve months over armed officers, and stop and search scandals.

Chief constable Stephen House's standing with national politicians also hit rock bottom last week after opposition leaders failed to offer him full support.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said House had to "change his ways" or go, while the Tory's Ruth Davidson said there would be "questions" over any leader whose changes were not supported by the public.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also aimed a dig in House's direction: "No chief constable is or ever can be allowed to be a law unto themselves."

Within hours of the comments, House announced he was "unlikely" to seek a second term as chief constable.

The Sunday Herald can reveal that Burgess, who sits on the force's Executive, has also quit the force.

In an interview last year, the former Scottish Affairs Attaché in the British Embassy in the US said of his high-profile job: "I was appointed after a selection process, to head up engagement with government, with elected officials both at the national parliamentary level and also, to a slightly lesser extent, with locally elected representatives."

He added that he was there to "to strengthen relationships with them to demonstrate that at the earliest possible juncture on big policy changes, and as we try and develop this new organisation, that we can do so collaboratively".

However, a key criticism of Police Scotland is that senior officers have pushed ahead with controversial policies without consultation.

The arming of officers on routine patrols was implemented unilaterally by the force, while House rolled out his Strathclyde frisking policy nationwide without telling anyone.

Burgess' last tweet on March 26 stated that it was "great" to meet the Minneapolis Police Chief and exchange views on "engaging with communities".

A source close to the force said: "It's another worrying sign that Police Scotland is not a happy ship. Who will be next to leave?'"

Scottish Tory MSP John Lamont said: "When big money appointments are made at the taxpayer's expense, an explanation is required when things go wrong.

"There's no question Police Scotland has struggled with its image since its creation.

"But perhaps nobody could help with that after the stop and search fiasco, the closure of front desks and the routine arming of officers."

A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed to this newspaper on Thursday that Burgess was leaving the force.

Asked when he had handed in his notice, the spokesman said: "We don't comment on individual staffing matters."