Sir Iain Livingstone QPM has overall command and responsibility for the Police Service of Scotland and leads 23,000 officers and staff serving communities across a third of the United Kingdom’s landmass.

Joining Lothian and Borders Police as Constable in 1992, Sir Iain served in detective and uniform roles in Edinburgh and West Lothian, leading a number of major investigations and operations. As Detective Superintendent, he played a key role in the security operation around the G8 meeting in 2005 and headed the murder investigation into the double shooting at the Marmion Bar in Edinburgh. Following promotion to Detective Chief Superintendent, he commanded the force’s Criminal Investigation Department and undertook an external attachment as a senior investigator to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

After completing the Strategic Command Course, Sir Iain was appointed Assistant Chief Constable for Lothian and Borders Police in April 2009, with responsibility for Crime and Operations. As ACC, he was Gold commander for many significant events including the visit to Edinburgh of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

During work in 2012 to form Police Scotland, Sir Iain was appointed Deputy Chief Constable Crime and Operational Support. In this role, he created national specialist capabilities and oversaw the move to the multi-agency Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh.

Sir Iain was appointed Chief Constable in August 2018, having served as Interim Chief from September 2017.

As Chief Constable, he has led the national Service during its important role through the Covid pandemic; Police Scotland’s successful security operation for the United Nation’s COP26 Summit in 2021; and Operation Unicorn, which ensured events following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth were held safely and with dignity.

Sir Iain graduated in law from the Universities of Aberdeen and Strathclyde and practised as a solicitor in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London before joining the police service. Awarded a Fulbright Scholar while a Detective Sergeant, Sir Iain graduated with a master’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York. Sir Iain is active across the justice sector and was a member of the Scottish Sentencing Council. He continues to advise on the Operation Kenova investigation into matters during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

In 2015 he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal and was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in June 2022 for services to policing and the public.