Scottish Police Authority chief Susan Deacon quits

There are more problems at the Scottish Police Authority as Susan Deacon quits as chair after 2 years in the post, saying there are 'fundamental flaws' in the system.

In a resignation letter sent to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, she said she believed "accountability arrangements for policing in Scotland are fundamentally flawed".

Ms Deacon was Labour MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh from 1999 to 2007 and served as Scottish health minister.

Here's the full text of the letter:

Vice Chair David Crichton, who will take over the Authority’s Board until a new Chair is appointed, said:

“The Members of the Authority wish to acknowledge the significant contribution that Susan Deacon has made as Chair of the SPA over the past two years. She took up the role at a period of considerable instability in the police service. That Police Scotland now has a strong, resilient leadership team in place is testimony to her contribution to the improvement of policing in that period.

“We believe that the system of governance and accountability for policing in Scotland that was envisaged by the founding legislation is a sound one and can work effectively. Members of the Authority are fully committed to taking forward the range of work required within the SPA and with other partners to do so.

“While we respect this personal decision of the Chair, our collective focus will be on working together with our dedicated staff team to build on recent progress, deliver the actions and improvements already identified, and redouble the SPA’s focus on the issues of greatest importance to policing and the public.

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