Iain Livingstone Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Sir
Iain Livingstone
Honorific-Suffix:QPM
Office:Chief Constable of Police Scotland
Term Start:27 August 2018
Term End:10 August 2023
Predecessor:Phil Gormley
Successor:Jo Farrell
Office1:Deputy Chief Constable Designate of Police Scotland
Term Start1:May 2016
Term End1:27 August 2018
Predecessor1:Neil Richardson
Birthname:Iain Thomas Livingstone
Birth Place:Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Profession:Solicitor; Police officer
Alma Mater:University of Aberdeen
University of Strathclyde
John Jay College of Criminal Justice[1]
Module:
Embed:yes
Youthclubs1:Raith Colts
Years1:1983–1985
Years2:1985–1986
Clubs1:Raith Rovers
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Caps2:1
Goals2:0

Sir Iain Thomas Livingstone, (born 6 October 1966[2]) is a Scottish retired police officer who served as Chief Constable of Police Scotland. He was previously Deputy Chief Constable Designate of the force. He was named as the next Chief Constable on 15 August 2018 and took up office formally on 27 August 2018. He retired from Police Scotland in August 2023.[3] [4]

Early life

Livingstone graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1988 with a first class Bachelor of Laws degree.[5] During his time as a student at Aberdeen he played association football as a forward for Raith Rovers[6] and Montrose.[7] [8] He also attended the University of Strathclyde before beginning a career as a solicitor.[1] [9]

Police career

Livingstone joined Lothian and Borders Police in 1992, rising swiftly through the ranks and eventually becoming head of that force's CID branch[3] and Assistant Chief Constable for Crime.[9] He graduated with a master's degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York, where he studied from 1998 as a Fulbright scholar;[1] [9] he also served secondments as a special investigator with the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, and was part of Lord Bonomy's review of corroboration. He has sat on the Scottish Sentencing Council.[3] He advises on the Operation Kenova investigation into matters during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.[10]

Livingstone served in detective and uniform roles in Edinburgh and West Lothian, leading a number of major investigations and operations. As Detective Superintendent, he played a key role in the security operation around the 31st G8 summit in 2005 and headed the murder investigation into the double shooting at the Marmion Bar in Edinburgh.

After completing the Strategic Command Course, he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable for Lothian and Borders Police in April 2009, with responsibility for Crime and Operations. As ACC, he was Gold commander for many significant events including the visit to Edinburgh of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

When Lothian & Borders was amalgamated into the new Police Scotland force in 2013, Livingstone was named Deputy Chief Constable for Crime and operations. After being overlooked for the Chief Constable job when Phil Gormley was appointed as the successor to Stephen House in late 2015, he initially remained part of the force executive but in summer 2017 announced his intention to retire in the coming months.[11] He then accepted a request to reconsider his decision after several allegations of misconduct were made against Chief Constable Gormley and the latter was placed on special leave;[12] by September 2017 Livingstone was leading the force on an interim basis. When Gormley resigned in February 2018 to contest the allegations, Livingstone became the frontrunner to succeed him formally.[13] The role as Chief Constable from 27 August 2018 carries a four-year term and an annual salary of £216,000.

As Chief Constable, he led the national service during through the COVID-19 pandemic, the security operation for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference and Operation Unicorn following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

He retired from Police Scotland on 10 August 2023.

Controversies

He was suspended and demoted in 2003 after an allegation of sexual misconduct after an event at Tulliallan Policing College three years earlier,[14] but was cleared following an internal misconduct hearing[15] [9] and later reinstated to his previous role as Superintendent (the youngest officer of that rank in Scotland at the time) following an appeal.[3]

Livingstone admitting he had acted inappropriately by falling asleep in the woman's room, although he was cleared of any sexual misconduct. He told the BBC earlier that he had too much to drink at a social event at the college, and had fallen asleep "in the wrong place", adding: "That was wrong, I shouldn't have done that".[16]

Former Tayside Police assistant chief constable Angela Wilson, commenting on Livingstone being cleared of sexual assault allegations, said that "[Livingstone was] not fit to lead". Constable Calum Steele, Scotland's police union boss, was found guilty of posting "inappropriate and offensive" online comments about Wilson following her comments on Livingstone.[17]

Honours

Livingstone was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 2015 for distinguished service. He was knighted in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to policing and the public.


Ribbon Description Notes
  • 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours List
Queen's Police Medal (QPM)
  • 2002
  • UK Version of this Medal
  • 2012
  • UK Version of this Medal
  • 2022
  • UK Version of this Medal
  • 2023
  • UK Version of this Medal

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Police Scotland's four new Deputy Chief Constables. Edinburgh Reporter. 4 December 2012. 27 August 2018.
  2. Birth certificate of Iain Thomas Livingstone, 6 October 1966, Dunfermline District 424/1228 – National Records of Scotland
  3. Web site: Scotland's new police chief announced . Bbc.co.uk . 15 August 2018. 15 August 2018.
  4. Web site: New Chief Constable of Police Scotland appointed. Police Service of Scotland. 15 August 2018. 18 August 2018. 21 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190121004647/http://www.scotland.police.uk/whats-happening/news/2018/august/new-chief-constable-police-scotland-appointed. dead.
  5. Web site: Hamish Macdonnell . New police chief 'will bring stability' . The Times . 16 August 2018 . 16 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Season 1985/1986 Raith Rovers Iain Livingstone . Alamy. 18 August 2018.
  7. News: Chris Marshall . Iain Livingstone appointed head of Scotland's national police force . The Scotsman . 15 August 2018 . 16 August 2018.
  8. Web site: Iain Livingstone . Post War English & Scottish Football League A-Z Players Transfer Database. 18 August 2018.
  9. Web site: From early retirement to chief constable in just 12 months . Bbc.co.uk . 15 August 2018. 16 August 2018.
  10. Web site: Chief Constable Iain Livingstone QPM - Police Scotland . 2023-02-22 . www.scotland.police.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20230222081505/https://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/who-we-are/executive-team/chief-constable/. dead. 22 February 2023.
  11. Web site: 'A shambles and a nightmare' Police Scotland chief quits as top-brass clear out looms . Daily Record. 20 July 2017. 18 August 2018.
  12. Web site: Police Scotland deputy chief constable delays retirement. BBC News. 11 September 2017. 18 August 2018.
  13. Web site: Police Scotland: The search for a new chief constable. BBC News. 8 February 2018. 18 August 2018.
  14. Web site: Police chief: My sex case nightmare; Woman PC accuses him of assault : He is suspended pending a probe.. Sunday Mail. TheFreeLibrary.com. 9 February 2003. 18 August 2018.
  15. Web site: High-flier is reduced to the ranks; Policeman will fight action taken after drunken party . The Herald. 26 June 2004. 18 August 2018.
  16. Web site: New chief urged to tackle police 'misogyny'. BBC News. 16 August 2018. 31 July 2022.
  17. Web site: 'Inappropriate and offensive' Police union boss guilty of abusing female former chief in Twitter tirade. BBC News. 3 June 2018. 31 July 2022.