New chief inspector of constabulary for Scotland appointed

Following an open competition, the First Minister the Rt Hon Jack McConnell has announced that Mr Paddy Tomkins QPM is to be appointed HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCIC) for Scotland. Mr Tomkins will succeed Mr Andrew Brown CBE QPM, who will retire early next year.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Executive said: “In his role of HMCIC, Mr Tomkins will be responsible for carrying out a series of inspections of individual police forces and producing an annual statutory report for Scottish Ministers, which is presented to the Scottish Parliament.”

Mr Tomkins` key objectives will be to:

• Speed up reforms to ensure Scotland`s police meet the challenges of 21st century policing.
• Improve performance and build public confidence in the police.
• Promote best practice among police forces in Scotland to ensure our service stands comparison with the best in the world.

Mr McConnell said: “Scotland has a proud history of policing and our forces have a vital role in delivering the safer, stronger communities we all want to see. Today we have more professional police officers than ever before – some 1,500 more than in 1999.

“We want to work with the service to ensure that more of them spend more of their time doing what they do best – preventing and detecting crime.

“I want to congratulate Paddy Tomkins on his appointment to this key post. His commitment and enthusiasm and excellent record qualify him very well to take forward our ambitious agenda for modernisation and reform of police services.

“I am aware that Andrew Brown still has important work to complete over the coming months but I want to thank him for his commitment and professional expertise in his time as HMCIC.”

Mr Tomkins (46) has been Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police since 2002. He is married with two children and lives in the Scottish Borders.

Mr Tomkins has been a police officer for 27 years. He has served as Commander in the Metropolitan Police and Assistant Inspector of Constabulary at the Home Office. He currently holds the Diversity Portfolio for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS).

Earlier this year, Mr Tomkins was awarded the Queen`s Police Medal (QPM) for distinguished police service. He also holds a Commendation from the Chief Constable of Sussex Constabulary for his actions as the first Sergeant at the scene of the IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel, Brighton in October 1984.

Chief Constable Ian Latimer, president of ACPOS, said: “On behalf of Scotland’s police forces, I would like to congratulate Paddy Tomkins on his appointment as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

“Speaking for my fellow chief officers, we are grateful for his input at ACPOS during the years that he has been involved with the Association.

“Paddy has an excellent background for the position having been with HMIC for a number of years prior to assuming his current role with Lothian and Borders Police. His experience in multi-force co-ordination and commanding major incidents stands him well for the challenges that face policing in Scotland in the forthcoming years.”