Finance boss on sick leave after Police Scotland Chief Constable drafts unpaid advice.
Scotland’s police chief has become the target of a formal complaint by the force’s most senior civilian member, amid a dispute over the budget of the cash-strapped single agency.
Deputy Chief Officer David Page has been on sick leave since October, shortly after Jo Farrell took over as chief constable, inheriting a £20 million funding gap and the lowest personnel levels since 2008.
He has filed a grievance against his new boss, who hired an unpaid adviser – an ex-colleague from Durham Constabulary, the force she previously managed – within days of taking over her position to assist her with matters such as balancing Police Scotland’s accounts.
The Mail says Mr Page’s worries are related to the participation of Gary Ridley, the assistant chief officer at Durham, who was caught up in a fight last year over Ms Farrell’s use of a patrol car driven by a traffic officer to ferry her down to Northumberland.
Mr Ridley was the other person transported from Edinburgh and dropped off at his home in Gateshead, Tyneside.
He was in Scotland giving Ms Farrell ‘unpaid assistance’ on financial concerns, strategic planning, and eliminating bureaucracy.
Former Army intelligence officer Mr Page, who makes up to £195,000 per year, has similar responsibilities in finance, procurement, estates, and development.
Ms Farrell, who took over the £248,724-a-year role from Sir Iain Livingstone on October 9, sparked outrage when it was revealed that an on-duty constable was asked to transport her and another colleague to their homes in northern England.
The voyage from Waverley Station occurred on October 20th, during Storm Babet, which caused extensive train cancellations.
Ms Farrell justified bringing in Mr Ridley, who earns £109,575 per year, during a meeting of Holyrood’s criminal justice committee in December, saying: “Having been in policing for more than 30 years, I have a network of people who I know bring value to policing, and Mr Ridley is one of them.”
Mr Page informed the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) in September last year that’slash and burn’ budget cuts would be required, and that ‘every penny is a prisoner’.
A Police Scotland insider told The Times newspaper that David is well-respected and plays an essential role in directing and assisting in major choices that must be made in a large contemporary police agency.
‘He is capable and able and would not have filed a grievance carelessly, but he believes his position is being eroded.
‘This latest development is the last thing the chief constable wants after the “private police taxi” catastrophe, and having one of the force’s most capable executives lodge a grievance is not a good look.’
Police Scotland sent inquiries to the Scottish Police Authority, which declined to comment.
Last night, Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay stated that the national force and the SPA were not forthcoming regarding the allegation.
Mr Findlay stated: “All public bodies have a duty to be candid about such important issues, and I would urge ministers, Police Scotland, and the SPA to come clean about exactly what is going on.”
The allegation comes at a critical time for the chief constable, since her two most senior officials, Deputy Chief Constable designate Fiona Taylor and Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, have both decided to retire within the next three months.
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