Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham to retire from policing

Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham KPM has announced his intention to retire from policing after almost 30 years’ service.

DCC Graham, who leads the Service’s Local Policing portfolio, notified the Scottish Police Authority today and will leave Police Scotland on 8 April.

He said: “After almost 30 years in policing, including more than 11 as a chief officer, I have decided the time is right to leave Police Scotland and take up new challenges.

“It has been a privilege to serve the people of Scotland as a police officer and I hope to be able to do so in some other capacity in the future. I want to thank my colleagues and friends in Police Scotland, in partner agencies, and in communities across the country, for the support they have given me throughout my career.”

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “I want to thank Malcolm for his outstanding leadership throughout a distinguished career defined by integrity and commitment.

“Malcolm has driven high standards of compassion and professionalism in Police Scotland, establishing our Major Investigations Team and enhancing our response to Violence Against Women and Girls. He played a vital role in the policing response to the Covid pandemic and following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

“I am hugely grateful for all Malcolm has done for policing and the public and wish him the very best for his retirement.”

Martyn Evans, chair of the Scottish Police Authority, said:

“Malcolm Graham has been a highly effective leader fulfilling a range of complex and demanding policing roles over a distinguished 30-year career. I am very grateful for his outstanding contribution and support to the Authority. He leaves Police Scotland in a stronger position and we wish him well for his next chapter.”

DCC Graham, who began his career in 1995 with Lothian and Borders Police, was ACC Major Crime, Public Protection and Local Crime at the inception of Police Scotland.

He oversaw significant improvements to policing approaches in key areas such as tackling violence against women and girls and non-recent child abuse investigations.

As ACC Strategy and Innovation, he went on to lead the development of Police Scotland’s 10-year strategy, Serving a Changing Scotland, then later served as ACC for Partnership, Prevention and Community Wellbeing.

He became Deputy Chief Constable in 2019 and took on the remit of Crime and Operational Support, where he was responsible for specialist policing functions including major crime investigations and major incident response. He also led the policing response to the Covid 19 pandemic and the policing operation for the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen.

He moved to the Local Policing portfolio in March 2023, where he is responsible for community policing across Scotland, criminal justice, partnerships, and C3 contact, command and control.

The Scottish Police Authority is currently recruiting for a Deputy Chief Constable to replace DCC Fiona Taylor QPM, who announced in November 2023 her intention to retire in February 2024. The Authority will consider whether a separate process is necessary to fill the vacancy caused by DCC Graham’s retirement.