Police commanders team announced

Jan 22 2013

A team of 14 commanders to lead local policing when Scotland's new single force becomes operational has been announced.

The chief superintendents have been appointed to oversee policing in communities when Scotland's eight forces merge into Police Scotland on April 1.

This includes response officers, community officers, local crime investigation, road policing, public protection and local intelligence.

The appointments come after consultations with every local authority and they will be led by Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick.

Her local policing team also includes three assistant chief constables working closely with those announced today to cover the north, east and west commands.

She said: "The local commanders will work closely with communities to reflect their concerns in highly-localised policing plans - one for every council ward area in Scotland.

"They will be the recognisable and visible faces leading on local policing from Shetland to the Solway Firth, across each council area in Scotland.

"They will be responsible for ensuring the best possible service to our communities by working with the public to identify local priorities, tackle the issues of greatest concern and maintain the performance which has seen record low crime levels achieved."

The local police commanders are Ch Supt Adrian Watson in Aberdeen City, Ch Supt Mark McLaren in Aberdeenshire and Moray, Ch Supt Julian Innes for the Highlands and Islands, Ch Supt Hamish Macpherson in Tayside, Ch Supt David Flynn for Forth Valley and Ch Supt Mark Williams in Edinburgh.

Ch Supt Jeanette McDiarmid will command in Lothians and Borders, Ch Supt Garry McEwan in Fife, Ch Supt Andy Bates in Greater Glasgow, Ch Supt John Thomson in Ayrshire, Ch Supt Nelson Telfer in Lanarkshire, Ch Supt Russell Dunn in Argyll and West Dunbartonshire, Ch Supt Alan Spiers in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde and Ch Supt Kate Thomson in Dumfries and Galloway.