Two major appointments to lead the new body which will bring together a wide range of national police support services were announced today.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson appointed Mervyn Rolfe as Convener of the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) and David Mulhern, the current interim Chief Executive, as its Chief Executive.
The SPSA, which takes up its full powers, functions and duties on 1 April next year, will bring together police training, criminal records, the development of national information systems and a new national forensic science service, as well as the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency which is being put on a statutory basis with new statutory powers and functions.
Cathy Jamieson said:
"Scotland's police service is well equipped to meet the challenges of policing in the 21st Century. Record numbers of police officers supported by record investment and the new powers in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, are helping to create safer communities for all.
"The police support services already play a vital role in underpinning the fight against crime and the establishment of the new national forensic science service will further enhance that role.
"By bringing them together under a single national authority we can build on the strengths of the past and find new ways to improve the way we support front line police officers as we work to reform and modernise Scotland's police service.
"Mervyn Rolfe has a long and successful track record in public service and David Mulhern has proved a very capable interim Chief Executive with a great deal of experience as a serving police officer.
"I am confident that their appointments will provide the SPSA with the strong, credible leadership it needs as it prepares to take on its important role next April."
The Convener has been appointed by Scottish Ministers following open competition which was conducted in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice. The Chief Executive was also appointed following open competition.
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 (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Mervyn Rolfe was a Scottish Labour Councillor until May 2003 and is still a member of the Scottish Labour Party although not now politically active.
The Convener and Chief Executive will be appointed with effect from January 1, 2007. The post of Convener is a part time and attracts a daily rate of £320 per day. It is expected that the post will involve a time commitment of six to 10 days per month. The Chief Executive will be a full time employee of the SPSA and will be paid a salary of £106,295.
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
- Mervyn Rolfe is a former Lord Provost of Dundee City Council and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Dundee. He served as Depute Leader of both Tayside Regional Council and Dundee City Council as well as holding various Convenerships, and was awarded the CBE in 2000 for services to local government. He is no longer politically active but is currently Chair of East Scotland European Partnership Ltd and has previously been a member of Angus and Dundee Tourist Board and Tayside Business Gateway amongst other posts.
- David Mulhern has 28 years' experience in the police service. He has been interim Chief Executive of the SPSA since September 2005, leading the preparations for the establishment of the SPSA, and was previously Deputy Chief Constable of Central Scotland Police and Assistant Chief Constable of the BritishTransport Police.
- On 1 January 2007 the SPSA will be brought into being as a legal entity so that all the necessary preparations can be taken forward for SPSA to assume its full statutory powers and functions on April 1, 2007.