Thanks for following our live page coverage of Sir Iain Livingstone speaking to the Scottish Police Authority board.

Image source, Police Scotland

The chief constable of Police Scotland has admitted that the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory.

Sir Iain Livingstone said prejudice and bad behaviour within the force was "rightly of great concern".

He also said that acknowledging the issues exist was vital for real change to happen.

A review recently uncovered first-hand accounts of racism and sexism by serving officers.

It also heard about cases where staff had been "punished" for raising concerns.

Read more here.

Board member Katharina Kasper asks the chief constable why it has taken so long to reach a stage where he feels comfortable making statements about the force’s “institutional racism”?

Although Police Scotland is now 10 years old, policing in Scotland is an “ancient institution” that goes back 200 years and inevitably carries the “cultural norms and structures” of its history, Sir Iain says.

There have been understandable concerns from staff that officers would now be routinely classed as racist by the public, and that resistance should not “unfairly condemn colleagues”.

"Very significant progress” has been made and the force has challenged itself, he adds.

“We are doing it now because it is the right thing to do,” he says. “There is no reason not to. It allows us to go forward.”

SPA member Alasdair Hay says the chief constable acknowledged how this annoucement would be "felt deeply by the hard working officer and staff".

Mr Hay asks how the internal messaging of this is being handled.

Sir Iain says: "I've given my life to policing."

Sir Iain goes on to say the scrutiny and focus that falls on individual officers is exceptional.

"The police are actually people, men and women who have vulnerabilities and insecurities."

Image source, Police Scotland

Board member Michelle Miller asks the chief constable, in hindsight and knowing what he does now, how could he have reached this position sooner, and what questions could the board have asked to help the force do so?

Sir Iain says it a very challenging question but he doesn't think the board, or the force as an institution, should be too harsh on themselves.

He has had conversations with every board member on issues around diversity and inclusion in promotion opportunities and operational responses, he says.

The police authority has made a "significant contribution" and shares the same commitment as the force, he believes.

"We are where we are today and it is about going forward from here, accepting these issues, taking action and having a robust and very disciplined resolve to make progress," he adds.

Sir Iain's words will be applauded by many in Scotlandpublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 25 May 2023

11:22 BST 25 May 2023

David Cowan
BBC Scotland Home Affairs Correspondent

Admitting Police Scotland has serious institutional failures is a bold move when you've been in charge of the force for more than half its existence.

This politically savvy chief constable says it's the right thing to do and the right time to do it, as he prepares to step down.

Sir Iain Livingstone's words will be closely examined at the public inquiry which is investigating whether race was a factor when Sheku Bayoh died in police custody eight years ago. Sir Iain took care to mention Mr Bayoh's famly today.

His statement will be applauded by many in civic Scotland at a time when the force's handling of its investigation into the SNP has attracted criticism from some political quarters.

As for the reaction from inside the force, Sir Iain's popularity with the rank and file will help them accept this tough message but Police Scotland's frontline is already under great pressure.

The force has its lowest number of officers since 2008 because of real terms budget cuts and an independent review has described frontline resources as the greatest challenge to changing its culture. The review group said officers have “little or no space” to devote to reflection or training.

Sir Iain has acknowledged what his counterpart in the Met, Sir Mark Rowley, has refused to do.

He's said Police Scotland is guilty not just of institutional racism but also institutional discrimination.

He’s admitted a lot of people have been let down.

It will be years before we find out whether this is a catalyst for real change or just fine words from a chief constable who's about to walk out the door.

Claims of police sexism were highlighted by the case of former firearms officer, Rhona Malone.

She won a pay-out of almost £1m from Police Scotland after an employment tribunal found she had been victimised after raising concerns about a sexist email.

The tribunal accepted evidence that the culture in parts of armed policing was "horrific" and an "absolute boys' club."

She later claimed that an external review of what had taken place lacked independence and depth.

Ms Malone also called for Chief Constable Iain Livingstone to resign, questioning what he knew about her case and when.

Image source, Police Scotland

Civil servant Mary Pitcaithly asks the first question after the chief constable's statement.

She says discrimination exists across all society and policing is not immune from that - and asks what else needs to be done to address the wider problem.

Sir Iain agrees discrimination is a wider societal issue - but says that is not enough to explain the problem in policing.

"I feel because of the police role, because of the unique duties and responsibilities that we have - the powers of compliance, the duties of wellbeing - that we need to be at the forefront of that," he says.

Sir Iain says the force needs to "take care of ourselves first".

By accepting that institutional racism and institutional discrimination exists, it allows progress to go forward, he adds.

Sir Iain ends his report saying all of the police service and all of Scotland's institutions must work towards "building fairness, equality and justice".

The SPA chair Martyn Evans thanks the chief constable and says this is a "watershed moment in policing in Scotland".

The board members now question him on institutional racism and discrimination.

The chief constable says work to tackle the "insidious wrongs" of injustice and discrimination must continue beyond his time in the role.

Success will be measured by the improved experiences of officers, staff, communities and citizens, Sir Iain says.

Recognising institutional racism exists within the force is a key step towards being an inclusive service.

"It is the right thing to do and will make policing in Scotland even more effective in keeping people safe," he says.

A public inquiry is currently taking place into the death of Sheku Bayoh in Fife eight years ago.

The 31-year-old died after being restrained by about six officers who were responding to reports of him behaving erratically.

His family have claimed race played a part in his death, and they have criticised the subsequent investigation.

Three years ago a BBC Disclosure Documentary How Did Sheku Bayoh Die? presented evidence that questioned official accounts of what happened.

Sir Iain turns to the death of Sheku Bayoh, highlighting the commitment to ensuring Police Scotland is anti-racist.

He says recognising institutional discrimination is a statement of reality.

"I know the onus is on us in policing to continue to earn the trust of all communities."

The chief constable says the Our Policing Together programme identifies and co-ordinates effective and sustainable change right across Police Scotland.

He says the force is committed to increasing nowledge and learning on inclusion and he stresses the importance of having a diverse workforce.

Image source, Police Scotland

Prejudice and bad behaviour within policing is of "great concern and is utterly condemned", Sir Iain says.

"There is no place in Police Scotland for those who reject our values and standards," he says.

Stronger vigilance in recruitment and enhanced vetting have helped in this regard, Mr Livingstone says.

Every officer in Scotland swears an oath to do their duty "with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality" as well as upholding human rights, he reminds us.

He says officer do incredible things to keep communities safe and take their duties and responsibilities "incredibly seriously".

And while there is a "strong bond of trust" with the public, Sir Iain accepts that "people from different backgrounds or with different requirements don’t always get the service that is their right".

Mr Livingstone says he has been the chief of Police Scotland for six years and a police officer for over 30 years.

He has "a deep sense of duty and responsibility" for leading and representing the force, of which "all the people of Scotland should be hugely proud", he says.

While Sir Iain says Police Scotland is compassionate, values based, highly competent and well regarded nationally and internationally, it "can improve and must improve".

Some officers and staff can be conflicted in acknowledging the existence of institutional racism, sexism and institutional discrimination, he says.

"Truly, I recognise and understand that conflict and have experienced it myself," he adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Several surveys have highlighted falling public confidence with police over recent years in the wake of crises such as the murder of Sarah Everard.

Her death at the hands of Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens shocked the country and led to a damning report of the Met Police force which found deep and widespread failings.

In her report, Baroness Louise Casey found that discrimination is baked into the police culture there and that public confidence had been shattered.

A separate review into Police Scotland's culture found instances of misogyny, sexism and racism while the inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh is ongoing.

• Read more
• Sarah Everard: How Wayne Couzens planned her murder
• Met Police report: Rape cases ruined, Sikh officer's beard cut... five findings from Casey review

The phrase 'institutional racism' can often be misinterpreted or misrepresented as unfair and personal critical assessments of police officers and police staff as individuals," Sir Iain says.

That is not the case, he says.

"Does institutional discrimination mean our police officers and police staff are racist and sexist? No. It absolutely does not," Mr Livingstone adds.

He says it is right as Chief Constable, to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination is a reality for Police Scotland.

He says publicly acknowledging these issues exist institutionally is "essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist Service".

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Iain says the more people who understand Scotand's policing, the more the trust and support of "our fellow citizens increases".

"The operational independence of the chief constable is a key democratic principle."

There must be no form of political interference, he insists.

"Decisions are and will be based on public safety and the rule of law," he says, "not politics or any constitutional position."

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Sir Iain stresses the importance of officers and staff being clean-shaven, highlighted in thee pandemic where it was necessary to wear protective FFP3 masks.

The chief constable explains these masks must be skin tight to provide protection.

There is a consultation under way to look at people who cannot wear the mask, he says.

He says any policies being introduced must be proportionate and he says he is yet to make a decision on the policy.

Sir Iain says he has been clear about the aboslute detrmination to improve the response to violence against women and girls.

The chief constable also stresses the importance of road safety, as he continues his report.

And tackling the apalling toll of drug deaths has also been a priority.

Image source, PA Media

The authoritiy will hope to have identified a new chief constable by late June, says Sir Iain.

This should allow an "orderly and calm transition" to maintain the stability of Police Scotland, he says.

The chief constable is outlining details of a series of murders, stressing the "professionalism and high levels of competence" of the force.