Report Summary
Issued 27 October 2025, this FOI response relates to the number of days worked, location and number of days annual leave for Police Scotland's Chief Constable from 2023 to 2025. Partial disclosure, some information refused or not held.
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Response
The Scottish Police Authority has considered your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA).
In relation to four of your questions listed below:
- In 2024-25, how many days did the chief constable work?
- In 2024-25, how many days did this individual work from home, and how many days did they go into the office?
- In 2023-24, how many days did the chief constable work?
- In 2023-24, how many days did this individual work from home, and how many days did they go into the office?
The Authority can confirm that no information is held. By means of explanation, Police Scotland’s Human Resources function manages and monitors routine personnel matters, such as requests for and records of annual leave. Information may be available by contacting Police Scotland at foi@scotland.police.uk.
In respect of your two remaining questions, the Authority can confirm that some information is held. These questions and the Authority’s response are replicated below.
In 2024-25, how many days of annual leave did this individual [chief constable] take?
The Authority can confirm that some information is held. The Authority has information detailing that Chief Constable Jo Farrell took 28 days annual leave in 2024-25.
In 2023-24, how many days of annual leave did this individual [chief constable] take?
The Authority can confirm that some information is held. The Authority has information detailing that the former Chief Constable, Sir Iain Livingstone, took 20 days annual leave in 2023-24. Chief Constable Jo Farrell took 2 days annual leave in 2023-24.
By means of explanation in relation to both questions above, notice of the Chief Constable’s annual leave is often provided to the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority for awareness and diary purposes. This information may not be complete, and fuller information may be available by contacting Police Scotland at foi@scotland.police.uk
