Police Scotland deputy chief constable Neil Richardson to step down

A senior officer who has found himself at the centre of a ‘spying’ row engulfing Police Scotland is to step down later this year.

Deputy chief constable Neil Richardson – the second highest-ranking officer in the country - will leave the force when his contract runs out later this year. 

The force’s chief constable, Phil Gormley, said the former Strathclyde Police deputy chief constable has made an “outstanding” contribution to Scottish policing.

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Richardson was one of three candidates interviewed for the position of chief constable following Sir Stephen House’s announced departure last year. 

The announcement comes one week on from a murder detective accusing Richardson of “misconduct” following evidence he gave to a Holyrood committee in the wake of Police Scotland breaching rules on the use of spying powers in order to identify journalists sources.

The single service has said it is “reviewing” the content, including allegations, made by detective inspector David Moran in a letter to the parliament’s justice committee.

Richardson joined Lothian and Borders Police in 1985 and later went on to become a deputy chief constable with the legacy Strathclyde Police force. 

The officer, who was awarded an OBE for his work on the move from eight police forces down to one, went on to become a deputy chief constable for Police Scotland under House, his former chief at Strathclyde.

However, Richardson claimed in December that he had been portrayed as an “archetypal villain playing fast and loose with the rules” after police breached the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (IOCCO) code of practice by failing to get judicial approval while seeking communications data.

Gormley said: “Neil has served the communities of Scotland for over 30 years and has been a pivotal figure in the reform of policing and the creation of the single national Service. His contribution has been outstanding and that has been recognised with the award of the OBE and QPM.”

SPA chair Andrew Flanagan labelled Richardson a “leading figure in Scottish policing for many years” who has been an “outstanding public servant and leader”.

Richardson said: “I am extremely proud of what we have achieved in Police Scotland and privileged to have been able to play a part in what has been an historic change to policing in this country.”

A selection process to identify the deputy chief constable’s replacement will begin shortly.