The Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Sir Iain Livingstone QPM, is to retire.

Sir Iain has been in the post for six years and has been in policing for more than three decades.

He told the Scottish Police Authority (SPA): “By my last day in service, I will have been a police officer for 31 years and had the privilege of serving as chief constable for nearly six of those years.

“Police Scotland is an organisation with shared values and high levels of operational competence. The service improvements achieved in our ten years are unprecedented across the UK public sector, delivering effective policing for the public.

“We now have a full leadership team with the experience and capability to continue the progress made and can take confidence from the exceptional role Police Scotland played through Covid, COP26 and the events following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.”

Martyn Evans, chair of the SPA, said: “Sir Iain has been integral to delivering the vision of a single national police service and transforming policing over the last decade.

“In doing so, he has shown great imagination, courage and created stability. He has led the service with dignity, grace and distinction through significant major events and challenges. We are immensely grateful for his contribution and leadership.”

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Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: “As chief constable of Scotland he has led the force through what history will show to be hugely significant events.

“The successful policing of COP26, when the world’s focus was on Glasgow, has been widely applauded as was Police Scotland’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“During that time, officers were praised for their measured and proportionate handling of an unprecedented crisis, and we have Sir Iain to thank for that strategic direction.

“Most recently, the sensitive and effective policing operation put in place following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth provided a fitting tribute.

“Again, Sir Iain can be rightly proud of the strong and inspiring leadership he provided, which drove forward the whole Police Scotland response.

“Sir Iain leaves the second largest force in the UK in great shape as it prepares to mark its tenth anniversary – and that is a fitting and lasting legacy to his life of service.”