The Scottish Police Authority has today, Thursday, 25 June 2026, announced three senior appointments to Police Scotland’s leadership team following recruitment processes.
Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Stuart Houston has been appointed to the role of Temporary Deputy Chief Constable (T/DCC). ACC Houston is currently Police Scotland’s ACC for Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism, and Intelligence.
Chief Superintendent Phil Davison has been appointed to the role of ACC. He is currently local policing transformation lead for Police Scotland.
Temporary ACC Lynn Ratcliff has been appointed to the substantive role of ACC, pending completion of the Executive Leadership Programme. ACC Ratcliff was appointed to the temporary role of ACC in April 2025.
Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond was announced this week as the preferred candidate for Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, and Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson has retired.
These appointments follow a process of assessment, interview and selection conducted by the Scottish Police Authority.
Announcing the appointment, Alasdair Hay, Chair of the Authority said:
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart Houston to the rank of Temporary Deputy Chief Constable with Police Scotland.
“Stuart is a key member of Police Scotland’s leadership team, and he brings a wealth of skills and experience as an ACC which will further support the Chief Constable and her leadership team to meet the anticipated demands on Police Scotland over the summer period.”
“I am also delighted to announce the appointment of Lynn Ratcliff and Phil Davison as Assistant Chief Constables. Lynn and Phil are skilled operational leaders who will play a key role driving and delivering Police Scotland’s vision and business plan to 2030.”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell KPM said:
“I congratulate Stuart, Lynn, and Phil on their appointments which refresh our leadership team and ensure operational resilience.
"Each will play an important part in supporting and leading our frontline colleagues to deliver on our vision of safer communities, less crime, supported victims, and a thriving workforce.
"I want to thank Steve and Emma for their contributions to policing in Scotland and across the United Kingdom and wish them well for the future.
"In the coming days we will outline Chief Officer responsibilities following these appointments.”
Biographies
Stuart Houston joined Lothian and Borders Police in May 1996 and has undertaken several investigative roles across Local Policing and SCD.
Stuart has been the executive lead for Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism, and Intelligence since February 2025, having been appointed to ACC in June 2024 with oversight of the Professionalism and Assurance portfolio.
He has previously performed command roles within Intelligence Support and Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit within Specialist Crime Division.
Lynn Ratcliff joined Strathclyde Police in 1994 and is an experienced Event Policing Lead and Counter Terrorism Security Coordinator, having worked on major events including Olympics 2012, Commonwealth Games 2014, the Edinburgh Festival, Military Tattoo and COP26.
She moved to the Professional Standards Department in 2017 with responsibility for overseeing all conduct related matters within the North and East Commands.
In 2019, Lynn was promoted to Superintendent within the Professional Standards Department, serving as the National Head of Conduct for Police Scotland.
She transferred to the post of Operations Superintendent at Greater Glasgow Division in November 2020. In March 2024, she was appointed as the Divisional Commander at Greater Glasgow Division.
She was promoted to Temporary Assistant Chief Constable in April 2025.
Phil Davison joined Fife Constabulary in 1999 and held a range of uniformed and operational roles, also spending time as an instructor at the Scottish Police College.
From 2012, he was local commander in West Fife before undertaking a range of strategic, corporate and transformation roles around the establishment of Police Scotland, including the development of a national custody operating model.
Phil was promoted to Chief Superintendent in 2020, taking a key role in supporting local policing during the response to the pandemic.
Between 2021 and 2024, he was the Tayside Divisional Commander before taking on the local policing transformation lead for Police Scotland.
Phil is an experienced firearms, public order and events commander having had senior roles in events including the COP26 conference and the visit of the US President to Scotland in 2025.
Background information
The Authority advertised internally for a Temporary Deputy Chief Constable from 1 June 2026 to 12 June 2026. The role was open to any internal applicants who met the statutory eligibility criteria.
The assessment process for shortlisted candidates included an interview with the selection panel.
The Authority advertised for Assistant Chief Constables across the UK from 27 April 2026 to 24 May 2026. The roles were open to all applicants who met the statutory eligibility criteria.
The assessment process for shortlisted candidates included:
- An interview with the selection panel
- An operational competence discussion with former Chief Constable Dame Serena Kennedy and Sarah Roughead, Chief Financial Officer, Police Scotland.
- Psychometric testing.
The Authority is responsible for appointing Police Scotland’s Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constables, and Assistant Chief Constables, as required by the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
The Selection Panel for the Temporary Deputy Chief Constable was chaired by Alasdair Hay, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority and included:
- Jo Farrell, Chief Constable
- Angela Leitch, Board Member of the Scottish Police Authority
Craig Naylor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland and Caroline Carruthers, Director of HR were advisors to the panel and observed its discussions with candidates.
The Selection Panel for the Assistant Chief Constable was chaired by Alasdair Hay, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority and included:
- Jo Farrell, Chief Constable
- Amina Khan, Board Member of the Scottish Police Authority
- Sarah O’Donnell, Deputy Chief Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (Independent Member).
Craig Naylor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland and Caroline Carruthers, Director of HR were advisors to the panel and observed its discussions with candidates.
A Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland earns a starting salary of £230,580.
Assistant Chief Constables of Police Scotland earn a starting salary of £164,043.
Both appointments will be in accordance with the Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013 made under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
The temporary Deputy Chief Constable role will support demands on Police Scotland, including day to day operational requirements. This is for an initial period of three months and will be reviewed by the Executive Leadership and Remuneration Committee.