Police Scotland’s Deputy Chief Constable Designate Fiona Taylor will retire from policing in the New Year, with recruitment now underway for her replacement.

DCC Taylor has spent five years with Police Scotland and recently held the Chief Constable position on a temporary basis in the interim period between Sir Iain Livingstone’s retirement in August and CC Jo Farrell picking up the post in October.

DCC Taylor began her career with Lincolnshire Police and has also served in Lothian and Borders Police, Strathclyde Police and the Met.

Within the Met she had been Temporary Assistant Commissioner for Professionalism with strategic oversight and leadership of the Directorate of Professional Standards, Met Training, the Serious Crime Review Group and Operational Support Services.

Chief Constable Farrell said: “We should all be grateful that Fiona returned to policing in Scotland as a Deputy Chief Constable in 2018. She played a vital role in building and achieving the stability and improvement of Police Scotland during Sir Iain Livingstone’s leadership as Chief Constable.

“As DCC for Professionalism, Strategy and Engagement, Fiona has led the Service through significant challenges and has relentlessly driven a focus on standards and values with immense personal integrity.”

A successful candidate is due to be announced in March 2024.