News

1 July 2007
GRAMPIAN'S CHIEF CONSTABLE MCCKERRACHER BECOMES ACPOS PRESIDENT FOR 2007/08

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) is pleased to announce that Chief Constable Colin McKerracher, Grampian Police Force, will become the next president of the Association effective 1 July, 2007.

Association Vice-President for the past three months, Mr McKerracher replaces Northern Constabulary Chief Constable Ian Latimer, who will become Past-President and will retain his role as Chair of the ACPOS Diversity Business Area.

The presidency of the Association is for one year and is on a rotating basis among the country’s eight Chief Constables, with the vice-president taking on the presidential duties on July 1 every year.

Chief Constable Ian Latimer, out-going President, said:

“ACPOS is determined that policing in Scotland should continue to be at the forefront of public service responsiveness.

“The challenges that the Scottish Police Service faces for 2007/08 are significant, however, the work which has taken place in the past year paints a reassuring picture."

“As a Service, ACPOS looks forward to the year ahead and in handing over to my successor, Colin McKerracher, I am confident that the Scottish Police Service will continue to be an active partner in any debate with an emphasis on improving both existing practices and the level of service which is provided to the public on a
day-today basis.”

In-coming President Chief Constable Colin McKerracher said:

“As I prepare for my year as President, I believe that ACPOS has a vital role to play in a new, emerging Scotland.

“With the incorporation of ACPOS Ltd and the emergence of the Scottish Chief Police Officers Staff Association (SCPOSA), we can begin by clearly defining our role, our purpose and our principles as leaders of the Service.

“The Scottish Police Service stands on the threshold of a time to build and a time to speak, to take a fresh look at our role because Scotland is changing. Indeed, it has already changed.

“We have a new Scottish Parliament, new Police Authorities, and a changed political and social landscape.

“I believe that it is our responsibility as leaders of policing in Scotland to ensure that we help Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers to engage in a Scottish police agenda that meets the needs of the communities of Scotland.

“We need to seize this moment to re-engage with new and experienced politicians both nationally and locally as well as with our partners in community planning, to work more effectively with colleague civil servants and to maximise the value of the broad range of expertise that we collectively bring to bear to benefit the people across Scotland.

“ACPOS should be recognised as an agent of change – an organisation that is able and willing to be in the driver’s seat and not the passenger’s seat, that we listen to and connect with our communities to shape our plans, to drop things that are no longer relevant, to let go of structures that are no longer delivering and to be prepared to do things differently in order to benefit Scotland as a whole so that we have a safer, stronger and more successful country."