Revealed: Police Scotland candidates named

Two deputy chief constables and the second most senior figure at the National Crime Agency will be interviewed for the position of Police Scotland chief constable, Holyrood can reveal.

Deputy chief constable Neil Richardson, the second most senior officer in Scotland, and deputy chief constable for crime and operational support, Iain Livingstone, have been shortlisted.

Phil Gormley, who is currently deputy director general at the National Crime Agency, completes the three-man shortlist.

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Sir Stephen House announced in August his intention to stand down later this year, triggering a recruitment process.

Six applicants had put their names forward to replace House as chief constable, according to reports last week. No women applied for the post.

Holyrood understands that has now been cut down to three ahead of interviews taking place later this month.

New Scottish Police Authority (SPA) chair Andrew Flanagan will chair the selection panel, with a member of SOLACE and the Scottish Government’s director-general for learning and justice, Paul Johnston, among those who will sit on it.

The starting salary for the post is £212,280 with no bonus.

An SPA spokesman said: “The SPA has publicly set out details of the requirements and expectations we have for this key post.

"We have set out details of the process by which candidates will be assessed, and the Chair has been clear that he expects to make an announcement before Christmas and no comment will be made on this confidential process before then."