‘Impossible’ for police chief to continue

SCOTLAND’S UNDER-FIRE chief constable has said it would be “impossible” for him to resume policing duties as he resigned from the post with immediate effect.

Phil Gormley had been on special leave since September amid investigations into claims of gross misconduct. Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said he hoped Mr Gormley’s departure would allow the force “to move forward”.

However opposition MSPs said serious questions and problems remain for ministers and Police Scotland.

The independent Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) had received five misconduct referrals regarding Mr Gormley from the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), the police oversight body.

Mr Gormley has always denied any wrongdoing.

In a statement he said “events since November 2017 have led me to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to resume my duties in a meaningful way prior to the end of my contract”.

He added: “I now need to prioritise the health and well-being of my family on whom these events have taken a significant toll.”

Mr Gormley had been told by the SPA in November that he could return to work, but that decision was reversed after the Justice Secretary questioned “clear deficiencies” in the body’s decision-making process.

Mr Matheson was heavily criticised by Mr Gormley’s lawyer David Morgan, who said there was “no lawful basis” for the intervention.

Meanwhile, the chief constable of Cheshire Police will face a gross misconduct hearing after being accused of “angry outbursts and aggressive attacks” on staff. Chief Constable Simon Byrne was suspended from the force last August pending the conclusion of the hearing.