The Minister for Children and Early Years, Adam Ingram MSP, has announced the appointment of a new Deputy Chair to SCRA.

The new Deputy Chair is Malcolm Dickson.

Malcolm Dickson was the Assistant Inspector of Constabulary between 2006 and 2008. He has spent much of his 32 year career in the public sector, initiating and developing effective working links and projects with local authority and senior Government officials.

Prior to his role within HMIC, Mr Dickson served in a number of operational and functional command posts within Lothian and Borders Police before becoming Assistant Chief Constable and then Deputy Chief Constable of the force between 2000 and 2006. Much of his work in the national arena during that time was centred on providing better services to victims and other members of the public and helping to integrate the criminal justice system.

Mr Dickson was also a key player in the creation of the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland. He was also a member of the reference group for Lord Bonomy's High Court Review between 2002 and 2004, the Advisory Group to Ministers on Drug and Alcohol Misuse, and the Licensing Reform Advisory Group in 2005.

Mr Dickson was first appointed to the SCRA Board in 2008 and has served as a member and, latterly, as Chair of the Audit Committee.

This appointment will be for two years and will run from June 1, 2010 until May 31, 2012.