A NEWLY-RETIRED senior police officer and whistleblower has called for the resignation of Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House “for the good of the service”.
Angela Wilson, a former assistant chief constable of Tayside Police, said she took early retirement last week as a result of his management style. She accused House of dictating the way Police Scotland is run. The force has faced criticism for excessive use of stop-and-search powers and the overt deployment of armed officers on regular duties.
Wilson said she retired three years early as a result of House’s “regime”, and claimed he had an excessively forceful management style. “The sign of a good leader is somebody who listens to other people. Had the current leadership done that, they would not have got into the current difficulties with stop and search and overtly arming police officers.
She added: “It does appear to me he’s a micro-manager. It’s a style of leadership I think is outdated. I’m going to be honest and say for the good of the service I hope he moves on soon.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We are disappointed Ms Wilson hasn’t felt part of the team at Police Scotland and are surprised at her comments regarding armed policing, as Tayside Police implemented this approach prior to April 1 2013 [when Police Scotland was established].
“The Chief Constable and all officers and staff in the organisation are fully focused on delivering the priorities set out in our annual policing plan, published last week, which continues to put local policing at the heart of how we keep people safe.
“Matters relating to Police Scotland strategy and policy on specific issues are discussed fully and openly at various management meetings involving officers from throughout the country and across the various specialist areas of policing.”
Wilson hit out at her former bosses earlier this week claiming they did not properly investigate the theft of a document from her locked office in April 2013.
She said the dossier contained allegations of misconduct against Justine Curran, who was then chief constable of Tayside Police, and her deputy Gordon Scobbie.
The 52-year-old said the theft must have been “an inside job” and claimed her police colleagues had demonstrated a lack of interest in getting to the bottom of it. A nine-month investigation failed to identify the thief or recover the dossier, and Wilson has now raised her complaint with police watchdog the Scottish
Police Authority.
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