Chief Constable Phil Gormley has today tendered his resignation and will leave his post with immediate effect.
Chief Constable Gormley requested a leave of absence in September 2017 to facilitate ongoing investigations into allegations made about him, which he denies.
Gormley will now, irrespective of the outcome of ongoing investigations, not be able to resume his operational role in Police Scotland in a meaningful way, and the ongoing disciplinary process may take some time to complete.
In a statement Gormley said: “The last 8 months have been difficult for me and my family, in particular I would like to thank my wife for her love and loyalty.
“The events since November 2017 have led me to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to resume my duties in a meaningful way prior to the end of my contract. I now need to prioritise the health and wellbeing of my family on whom these events have taken a significant toll.”
He added: “The support of colleagues from across the UK with whom I have served during the last 32 years has been a source of great strength.
“As Chief Constable of Police Scotland I have had the privilege to meet and work with some exceptional people, I wish them well for the future and it is in their interests that I feel it is right to step aside.”
With his resignation Gormley ends his contract 10 months early allowing Police Scotland to move forward with their agenda and strategy which he previously set in motion.
The SPA has decided that the Chief Constable Gormley will not be required to work his contractual notice period. The Chief Constable will receive a payment in respect of his salary for his 3 months’ notice period and his outstanding annual leave entitlement. He will receive no other settlement or severance payment from the SPA.
Susan Deacon, Chair of the SPA, said: “Chief Constable Gormley has made a significant contribution to policing in Scotland. The delivery of the 10-year strategy “Policing 2026: Serving a Changing Scotland” provides a strong basis for Police Scotland to move forward.
“I would like to thank him for this contribution and wish him well for the future. This has been a challenging period for all concerned, and in the interest of policing in Scotland we now need to move on”.