New chief constable of Police Scotland starts role

The new chief constable of Police Scotland has taken up her post from Monday.

Previously chief constable at Northumbria Police, Jo Farrell has led Durham Constabulary since 2019.

Farrell was appointed to the role by Scottish Police Authority and approved by Justice Secretary Angela Constance and becomes the first woman to hold the post.

Police Scotland is the second largest force in the UK with 16,805 officers.

Struggling with its finances, the force recently cancelled the recruitment of 200 new officers.

A review also found racism, sexism and homophobia by serving officers and the previous chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone said the force was "institutionally racist and discriminatory".

Image: Mark Anderson / Police Scotland building, Shawfield Drive