Two more senior Police Scotland officers set to stand down later this year

Two more senior officers are to step down from Police Scotland later this year as the national force prepares to usher in a host of new faces to the higher ranks. 

Assistant chief constable Ruaraidh Nicolson, who leads on organised crime and counter terrorism, and ACC Val Thomson, who has been charged with the planned closure of control centres, will leave the single force later this year.

The confirmation of two further departures comes a week after deputy chief constable Neil Richardson – the second highest-ranking officer in the country - announced he will leave the force when his contract runs out later this year.

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A date for Nicolson’s exit has yet to be confirmed, though it is anticipated the former Strathclyde Police officer will leave the service later this year. Likewise, Thomson remains in post but Holyrood understands she will also retire from Police Scotland later this year.

Both have found themselves thrust into the public spotlight in recent months. Thomson - whose brief covers contact, command and control as well as custody and criminal justice – has faced scrutiny after HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland found that roll-out of Police Scotland’s new national call handling model had suffered from “inadequate” oversight.

Meanwhile, Nicolson appeared before Holyrood’s justice committee earlier this year over the force breaking rules on intercepting communications in an effort to identify journalists’ sources.

Civilian oversight body, the Scottish Police Authority, last week started what is likely to be lengthy process to replace the pair, advertising for a new assistant chief constable for organised crime, counter terrorism and safer communities as well as a new assistant chief constable for local policing.

Police Scotland director of people and development John Gillies said: “The recruitment of new assistant chief constables by the Scottish Police Authority is part of the natural cycle of succession planning for Police Scotland.

“As senior officers leave the service after 30 plus years’ of service it is important that we put in place and deploy the appropriate selection process to bring on board officers with the skills and experience to successfully contribute as members of the Police Scotland executive team.”