PCC congratulates Chief Constable on new appointment.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has congratulated Chief Constable Jo Farrell following her appointment as the new head of Police Scotland.

Jo joined Durham Constabulary in November 2016 as Deputy Chief Constable and has been instrumental to its success.

She was appointed Chief Constable of Durham in June 2019 – becoming the first woman to hold the post in the force’s 180-year history. The force is now regarded as one of the best performing in the country.

She will now become the first woman to lead Police Scotland since it was established in April 2013.  The force is responsible for policing across the whole of Scotland and is the second largest force in the UK after the Metropolitan Police with 23,000 officers and police staff.

County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “Jo has worked extremely hard for the force and thoroughly deserves her success. Her inspirational leadership has seen the organisation go from strength to strength over the years and it is chiefly down to her passion and drive that the force is held in such high esteem nationally in so many areas of service and investigation.

“Jo is definitely a shining example for other female police officers.  She has repeatedly demonstrated that in policing, with professionalism and competence, the sky is the limit whether you are male or female.

“I would like to thank Jo for her hard work and tenacity over the years. She will be sorely missed by all her colleagues and partners as well as the wider workforce. This is a new chapter in Jo’s career, and I have absolutely no doubt that she will continue to lead Police Scotland with the same courage and determination she has invested in Durham.

“Now the search begins for someone to build on her legacy and lead the force with the same strength and energy for which Durham is widely known.”

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