THE chair of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has announced she is stepping down from her role.

Prof. Susan Deacon, of Prestonpans, informed the watchdog's board members of her decision at a meeting yesterday and quit in a letter to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP.

She held the role for two years, and said she believed Scotland's police governance was "fundamentally flawed" in her letter of resignation to justice secretary Humza Yousaf.

Ms Deacon said she had worked "tirelessly" to ensure the SPA operated effectively, and that public confidence and trust in policing was maintained.

She added: "In truth, however, I have increasingly become convinced that the governance and accountability arrangements for policing in Scotland are fundamentally flawed, in structure, culture and practice, and I conclude that there is little more I can do to make these arrangements work effectively."

The Justice Secretary tweeted: “I can confirm I have accepted Susan Deacon's resignation as Chair of SPA. As Susan says in her letter, Policing is in a stronger place now than when she took over, I thank her for her dedication to the role. We have a strong interim chair, David Crichton who will step in.”

Ms Deacon was Labour MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh from 1999 to 2007.