New top job for Phil Gormley ... Six months after quitting as chief constable of Police Scotland he lands senior inspection role in England ... 'Vote of confidence' appointment raises concerns about unresolved claims of bullying, a 'witch hunt' and SNP government meddling in policing

The former Police Scotland chief constable who quit amid bullying claims has landed a top job in England.

Phil Gormley will oversee the performance of police forces across north England and Northern Ireland with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The appointment by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid comes six months after Gormley quit Police Scotland amid bullying allegations which he denied.

Supporters say that landing such a prestigious and high profile post is a vote of confidence in Gormley who they believe was the victim of witch-hunt.

It also revives concerns about how bullying allegations against him were handled and about alleged meddling by SNP former justice secretary Michael Matheson.

Scottish Conservative shadow justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: “Mr Gormley is still clearly seen as a respected senior officer and has presumably been recruited through a robust process.

“However, due to the way matters were handled at the time, questions remain as to why Mr Gormley left such a senior position in Scotland and what went on during his tenure.

“The lack of resolution of the various issues will be challenging for him and deeply unsatisfying for those who raised concerns.

“This whole business has left a sour taste which the SNP, the SPA and Police Scotland must review to ensure it can’t happen again”.

Gormley, 55, went on voluntary ‘special leave’ last September after being accused of bullying.

Two months later the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) agreed he should return to work but their decision was reversed after Matheson intervened.

Matheson — since replaced by Humza Yousaf — faced calls to quit following accusations of inappropriate political meddling in the supposedly independent police authority.

When Gormley resigned in February he continued to deny the allegations against him but said it was “impossible for me to resume my duties in a meaningful way”.

At the time he faced seven separate complaints with two being investigated internally and five by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

But they were shelved when he quit which lead to questions about how gross misconduct complaints against senior officers are dealt with.

Moi Ali, a former Scottish Police Authority board member, lead calls for investigations to continue if an officer retires or resigns.

She said: “It is important that people accused of gross misconduct either get their names cleared so they can start a new role without a cloud hanging over them or if serious allegations are found to be true, they shouldn't be given senior roles.

“It needs to be one or the other. Their record should be either clean or tarnished.

“Investigations into misconduct allegations should continue after someone has left their post. The current system is completely unsatisfactory.”

Gormley’s new job emerged in the same week that Iain Livingstone was appointed Police Scotland’s third chief constable.

Last night Gormley declined to comment but a source said: “For over 30 years he never had a complaint against him until a number of bullying accusations surfaced one after the other in Scotland, which in the minds of many seemed like an orchestrated campaign.

“The way he was treated left a sour taste in the mouth of many in the police community both in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.

“It was no surprise within policing circles there were only three applicants to replace him.”

Gormley’s new role will see him become Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services for areas including Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Northern Ireland.

An HMICFRS spokesman said: “We are not able to comment.”

Versions of this report were first published in the Sunday Mail, The Times, The Herald, Daily Mail & Daily Express newspapers

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Russell Findlay is an investigations journalist reporting on law, politics, health, business and crime. He is also the author of non-fiction books. A fter 25 years with various newspapers he can now be found at STV News

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