The appointment of the first female Police Chief Constable in Scotland in Fife rightly got some media attention, but it now appears that the achievement may be somewhat overshadowed by the revelation that Fife's new Chief Constable was appointed from a shortlist of ... just one applicant, herself.
"FIFE'S new chief constable, Norma Graham, has not come across sexism or a 'glass ceiling' hindering the progress of female officers in her 30 years in the police. Mrs Graham is Scotland's first-ever chief constable and the police service has often been criticised, not least by female officers, for a macho 'canteen culture'. However, Mrs Graham said it would be unfair to say there was a glass ceiling preventing females reaching the top ... It has emerged that Mrs Graham was in fact the only candidate for the position. Councillor George Kay, head of Fife Council's police, fire and safety committee, said he believed that was a tribute to Mrs Graham's strengths, which were widely known and had perhaps deterred potential applicants."
Carnegie has some difficulty believing that one. It might have been that other possible applicants took the view she was a shoo'in and saved themselves some time by not applying. But is it really a good idea to appoint anyone, no matter how good they are believed to be, without assessing them against other candidates? Even if they are a woman? That's Fife.
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