Scotland’s most senior police officer ‘unlikely’ to remain in post next year

Sir Stephen House (pictured) was made chief constable of Police Scotland in 2013 when the single force was formed.

His contract is due to end in September next year.

Speaking to the Herald, Sir Stephen said he was “unlikely” to apply for his post to be renewed.

He said: “September 2016 will get me to somewhere like 35 and a half years in policing, probably a fair innings.

“The idea of me applying for a second contract is unlikely.”

His tenure has been controversial, with the force’s stop and search policy and deployment of armed officers on routine patrols attracting the criticism of politicians and rights groups.

In an interview with BBC Scotland’s 2015 programme he said some things “could and should” have been done better when Police Scotland was established.

He added: “I can tell anyone hand on heart that I have never been more accountable than I am now, and if you talk to any of my senior officers, divisional chief superintendents running different parts of policing in Scotland, they will all tell you the same thing.

“(We are) far more accountable under the new system in Police Scotland than ever was the case when there was eight forces.”