Scotland’s new chief constable to live rent-free in a castle for six months

Scotland’s new chief constable is to live rent-free in a government-owned castle.

Philip Gormley is to stay at Tulliallan Caste,Police Scotland’s headquarters, for six months without paying rent as part of his relocation package.

Mr Gormley, whose salary is £212,000 a year, held top positions in English police forces before coming north in January to replace Sir Stephen House.

Scottish Police Authority chairman Andrew Flanagan had suggested Mr Gormley base himself at the castle – an idea the new chief constable was receptive to.

Tulliallan, in Kincardine in Fife, is located in 90 acres of parkland and mixes Gothic and Italian styles.

It has been home to the Scottish Police College (SPC) since the 1950s. Now the Police Scotland College, it has over 400 en-suite rooms. Mr Gormley will take over the SPC director’s quarters.

An SPA spokesman said: “We believe that this makes sense for both policing and the public purse.

“This arrangement will provide a considerable saving when compared with the cost of short-term private-sector rental accommodation.”