SCOTLAND'S new Chief Constable has apologised and accepted she made an "error of judgement" when she used a police car to travel home to England as Storm Babet hit the UK last month
Jo Farrell used a police vehicle to get herself home when the train she planned to travel on was cancelled.
The incident happened on the evening of October 20, with The Sun newspaper reporting a Police Scotland car made the trip with an off-duty police officer behind the wheel.
Farrell confirmed she had requested her office “arrange for a car to drive me home to the Northumberland area after work”.
In a statement issued by Police Scotland, she added: “I was unable to complete the journey by train as services had been cancelled and my own police vehicle was unavailable.
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“I have apologised for this error of judgment.”
Watchdogs at the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) confirmed chairman Martyn Evans has raised the matter with Farrell.
An SPA spokesperson said: “The authority is aware the chief constable used a police vehicle following the cancellation of a scheduled train journey.
“The chair has discussed this with the chief constable who has apologised. The authority considers the matter closed.”
Farrell, Scotland's first female Chief Constable, succeeded Iain Livingstone in October.
She previously served as Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary, which covers Durham and Darlington.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance celebrated Farrell’s appointment at the time.
She said: “I am delighted that Jo Farrell has been appointed as Police Scotland’s new chief constable following the Scottish Police Authority’s rigorous selection process.
“Jo is the first woman to be appointed to this role. As the force marks its 10th anniversary next year, she has shown she has the skills needed to lead the service into the next decade and meet the challenges ahead."
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