Scottish Police Authority Chair Appointed

30th August 2012

Vic Emery OBE has been appointed as the first Chair of the new Scottish Police Authority (SPA), Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced today.

Mr Emery will lead and shape the SPA and hold the new Police Service of Scotland and the Chief Constable to account. He will also work closely with the Chief Constable, Scottish Government and other partners to ensure a smooth transition to the new service, which aims to go live on April 1, 2013.

He is currently Convener of the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Mr MacAskill said:"I am pleased to appoint Vic Emery as the first Chair of the new Scottish Police Authority. As well as excellent knowledge of policing in Scotland through his current role, he also has significant experience of leading large, complex organisations.

"He has demonstrated the ability to focus on key strategic issues - and address them. Mr Emery will be a strong and able Chair to lead the SPA through its crucial early years. He will play a pivotal role at the heart of Scotland's new policing landscape, providing strategic leadership and direction as well as holding the Chief Constable to account."

Mr Emery said:"I believe in policing and in the contribution it makes to the safety, security and economy of our country. That's part of what drives me to take on this big responsibility. As a businessman, I also believe structures and organisations should be simple, straightforward and accountable - for customers and for those working in them. That's why a single, united Scottish police service has always made sense to me.

"The more efficient we make the organisation of policing, the more police officers and staff can do for us as citizens. We have already shown that we can deliver a quality service for less cost in parts of Scottish policing. Now we have to achieve the same for all of Scottish policing. I look forward to working with the new Chief Constable to ensure we deliver a service to the public that is resourced, supported, and challenged to do just that."

The appointment will be for three years and will run from September 2012. It is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £450 per day. In the period from appointment until 1 April 2013 the expected time commitment is between 15 and 20 days per month and thereafter for the first full year from 1 April 2013, the expected time commitment is at least 10 days but no more than 15, per month.

Vic Emery OBE is currently Convener of the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency. He was Managing Director of BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions, which managed the warship building business on the Clyde and the warship support and sustainment business in Portsmouth. He also sat on the operational Board of BAE Systems Plc from 2003 until 2008 and was awarded an OBE in May 2008 for services to shipbuilding. Mr Emery is a former Board Member and Chair of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow as well as a Board Member of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. He holds no other public appointments but is currently Senior Adviser to the Tram Project Delivery Group for the City of Edinburgh Council and a Trustee of the Scottish Maritime Museum.

This appointment is regulated by the Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Mr Emery has declared no political activity.