Jo Farrell Explained

Jo Farrell
Office:Chief Constable of Police Scotland
Status:Incumbent
Term Start:9 October 2023
Office1:Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary
Term Start1:June 2019
Term End1:October 2023
Predecessor1:Michael Barton
Birth Place:Wirral, Cheshire, England
Profession:Police officer
Alma Mater:Sheffield Hallam University

Joanna Farrell (born September 1968[1]) is a British police officer, and current Chief Constable of Police Scotland. On 14 June 2023, it was announced that she had been appointed as Police Scotland's first female Chief Constable. She replaced Sir Iain Livingstone, who retired in August 2023.[2]

Life

Farrell was born in Wirral, Cheshire, and moved to Cambridge at the age of 15 when her father relocated there for work. After achieving a degree in Business Studies at Sheffield Polytechnic, she joined Cambridgeshire Police as a Police Constable in 1991, at the age of 22. She was promoted five years later, and in 2002, moved to Northumbria Police to take up the role of Chief Inspector, and was later promoted to Assistant Chief Constable. She joined Durham Constabulary in 2016, and was appointed as its first female Chief Constable in 2019. During her tenure as Chief Constable of Durham, the force introduced a new approach to dealing with rape suspects, and during the COVID-19 pandemic investigated Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer for a potential breach of COVID-19 regulations.

Farrell's appointment as Chief Constable of Police Scotland was made by the Scottish Police Authority following the announcement that Iain Livingstone would retire from the role in August 2023. Her appointment was confirmed by Angela Constance, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Justice, on 14 June 2023.[3] [4] She was the first woman to lead the Scottish force when she assumed that role in October 2023. Her previous force is one of the smallest in the UK, while Police Scotland is the second-largest.[5]

In December 2023 she announced that Police Scotland would begin rolling out the use of body cameras from summer 2024.[6]

Honours


Ribbon Description Notes
  • 2002
  • UK Version of this Medal
  • 2012
  • UK Version of this Medal
  • 2022
  • UK Version of this Medal
  • 2023
  • UK Version of this Medal

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joanna FARRELL - Personal Appointments . . 13 September 2023.
  2. Web site: Police Scotland appoints Jo Farrell as first female chief officer to flag down a working police car whilst drunk and be driven to England to her home. BBC News . BBC . 14 June 2023 . 14 June 2023.
  3. Web site: Chief Constable – Jo Farrell . Durham Constabulary . 15 June 2023.
  4. Web site: Police Scotland appoints first ever female Chief Constable . Kevin . Scott . 14 June 2023 . STV News . 15 June 2023.
  5. News: 2023-10-08 . Police Scotland's new chief constable Jo Farrell takes up post . BBC News . 2023-10-19.
  6. Web site: Police Scotland to roll out body cameras from next summer . 20 December 2023 . 20 December 2023 . BBC News . BBC.