Police Scotland could struggle to find new leader after bombshell racism claims

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Police Scotland could struggle to find a replacement for its outgoing chief Iain Livingstone after his bombshell comments about the force being institutionally racist, it has been claimed.Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has accused the Chief Constable of setting off a “bomb” for anyone who takes over and fears the impact will be felt most by ordinary officers.He has now written to First Minister Humza Yousaf asking if he knew of the chief’s concerns when he was justice secretary and what evidence had been provided to the government to back up the claims of widespread discrimination within the organisation.The MP said: “Iain Livingtsone has simply walked off into the sunset, having detonated a bomb which will have to be addressed by rank and file officers who will have to go into the streets to face accusations that they are institutionally racist and misogynist.

It’s disgraceful, and incendiary.“It creates a huge problem for whoever comes next after Iain Livingstone, especially if they are from inside Police Scotland if that same force has been ruled institutionally racist.

They will be dogged by this for their whole time in the job.”Livingstone is due to step down later this year after six years heading up Scotland’s single force,He stunned many officers, politicians and the public when he said last week that Police Scotland was institutionally racist and discriminatory at his final meeting of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).His comments were welcomed by some groups including the Scottish Muslim Police Association who said it marked “the start of a journey...towards rectifying systemic issues and cultivating a more inclusive and respectful police service”.Moi Ali, a former member of the Scottish Police