Scotland's police chief, Jo Farrell, has reportedly been told she has "lost the dressing room" by a senior colleague, raising questions about leadership and transparency within Police Scotland. The assertion was made by Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Middleton during a meeting, who stated that "no one had confidence in her leadership."
Middleton also expressed concerns about a perceived lack of transparency within the force, particularly following a series of controversies. A police source described the force's executive team as resembling "Game of Thrones on steroids," suggesting internal conflict among senior officers.
These accounts were partially corroborated by an anonymous post on X, formerly Twitter, on August 12. The post claimed an Assistant Chief Constable had privately raised concerns about a loss of confidence in the Chief Constable's leadership and suggested that the ACC was subsequently made "now persona non grata" afterward.
Further complicating the internal situation is the case of Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors. Connors is currently the subject of a bullying investigation but has been redeployed to the National Police Chiefs’ Council. Sources suggest she is being sidelined because she also challenged the leadership. Connors is reportedly threatening legal action, alleging the bullying investigation is "unlawful."
The bullying probe, initiated in December, is being led by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. Police Scotland has declined to comment on the matter.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr commented on the reports, stating that the coverage "is raising some very serious questions about what is going on at the top of Police Scotland" and that officers "have every right to expect effective leadership."
