SCOTLAND’S HIGHEST-ranking female police officer broke new ground yesterday as she was confirmed as Fife Constabulary’s new chief constable, writes Craig Smith.

Norma Graham (45) is the first woman ever to be appointed to the position in Scotland and takes the reins from outgoing chief Peter Wilson, who retired at the end of last month.

Mrs Graham, a former deputy chief constable, was widely tipped to be handed the post permanently, having been acting chief constable over the last few weeks.

“I am absolutely delighted to be appointed chief constable of Fife Constabulary,” she said.

Mrs Graham added, “It is a real honour to be asked to lead an organisation that is so committed to providing a high quality policing service to our communities.”

Her appointment was warmly welcomed yesterday by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill, who congratulated Mrs Graham on making history by becoming the country’s first female chief constable.

Mrs Graham joined Lothian and Borders Police in 1981. Her early career featured a number of uniform and CID roles in Edinburgh and the Lothians, including head of the drug squad and head of force policy.

On promotion to superintendent, Mrs Graham became deputy divisional commander in the north of the city and later moved to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary as chief superintendent.

Upon her return to Lothian and Borders Police, she was appointed head of crime management before becoming assistant chief constable of Central Scotland Police, where she was responsible for operations, in 2002.

She moved to Fife in 2005 to become deputy chief constable and became acting chief constable in May this year.