Three top officials at Scotland’s police watchdog are leaving their roles just weeks after the new single force was launched.
THREE TOP officials at Scotland’s police watchdog are leaving their roles just weeks after the new single force was launched. Interim chief executive Andrea Quinn, interim finance director Eamon Hegarty and interim strategy planning and performance director John Fox-Davies will not continue with the Scottish Police Authority beyond the summer. In an internal announcement obtained by The Courier, SPA chair Vic Emery admitted Ms Quinn and Mr Fox-Davies’ replacements could also leave just a year after they are appointed. Labour’s justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said the “departures show there is a crisis of leadership at the heart of policing in Scotland”. The internal notice, placed on Police Scotland’s private “intranet”, confirmed Ms Quinn told bosses of her decision not to apply for the permanent chief executive vacancy on Tuesday and will depart “in the coming weeks”. Mr Hegarty will leave once his six month contract expires this month, while Mr Fox-Davies is to go in July. An SPA spokeswoman told The Courier Mr Hegarty and Mr Fox-Davies were contractors whose periods of work had simply come to an end and they have decided to “pursue new opportunities”. She said: “Andrea has indicated that she does not wish to be considered for the permanent CEO role when it is advertised in due course and has announced her intention to leave the organisation.” Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said: “A trio of people leaving right at the top hardly inspires confidence for the future.” The internal notice said the SPA would “shortly” be advertising internally and externally for replacements for Ms Quinn and Mr Fox-Davies. It added that former Jim Maguire, a former finance director at the previous police watchdog the SPSA, will step up to Mr Hegarty’s role on an interim basis. Mr Emery described Ms Quinn as a “first-class leader” as he thanked all three. He said: “The respective CEO and strategy roles are interim and will be contracted for a period of up to 12 months. It is expected that SPA will move to a permanent organisational structure, with permanent appointments, within this timeframe.” kiandrews@thecourier.co.uk