Stand-in police chief Iain Livingstone still considering top job after sex case '˜mistake'

The frontrunner for the most senior position in the police has admitted he would still consider taking the top job during questioning in a documentary about his past conduct.

Former Lothian and Borders Police assistant chief constable Iain Livingstone is now the frontrunner for the top police job in Scotland

Mr Livingstone was demoted from superintendent to constable after being suspended following allegations of sexual assault against a woman police constable at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan in 2000.

When quizzed by BBC reporters he admitted to falling asleep in the woman’s room but he was reinstated to the role of superintendent in 2004, after charges had been dropped and it was deemed that the the original decision was harsh.

Speaking to the BBC the former Lothians high-flyer said: “There was a set of circumstances in 2000 whereby at a social event at Tulliallan I had too much to drink, I fell asleep in the wrong place and that was wrong.

“I shouldn’t have done that and clearly I accept that. I was suspended. I spent time off work.

“There was a hearing convened where I did accept I fell asleep, I was cleared of any sexual impropriety, I was cleared of any level of sexual intent and at that hearing I was demoted from superintendent to constable.

“I immediately appealed against that and was reinstated. I came back to work. I accepted that I had made a mistake. I accepted that I had learned from it and since that time I have continued to conduct my duties with absolute rigour and professionalism.”

Mr Livingstone took control of the force when Phil Gormley went on “special leave” last September and told the documentary team that he still believed he had the skills to do the job.

“One of my main strengths, I think, is an ability to work collectively and to work in a collegiate manner. I do think I could do the job. I just need to be quite clear in my own mind that that’s what I want to do for the next three to five years.”