AN on-duty cop activated his police motor’s blue 999 lights for part of his journey to pick up the Chief Constable and ferry her home to England, insiders have claimed.
It has also emerged that Jo Farrell’s up to 120-mile “taxi ride” left a Scots region with just one traffic patrol officer on shift.
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And we can reveal the driver had to race from Edinburgh to Livingston to collect an unmarked vehicle before returning to pick up Scotland’s new top cop at the capital’s Waverley Station.
A source said: “It’s claimed the guy had his blue lights on as he knew it was the Chief Constable waiting on him.”
Another added: “Officers claim J Division, covering Lothian and Borders, was left with just one road traffic patrol unit because the other was driving the chief.”
The trip on October 20 — when Storm Babet was battering the UK — was revealed yesterday by The Scottish Sun.
And fresh details emerged after we put a series of questions on it to Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority.
The force confirmed that Ms Farrell, 55, had requested the lift at “the end of the working day” and was with a former colleague from Durham Constabulary.
They said the unnamed officer had been “providing general advice on best practice”.
It was confirmed he was taken home to Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, after the police driver had first taken Ms Farrell to the Northumberland area.
Asked if blue lights were used during any part of the patrol officer’s journey, the force said: “Not clear at this stage”.
Ms Farrell made it clear “she did not consume alcohol” that night.
When asked why her usual police vehicle was unavailable, a spokesman said: “The driver had finished their shift.”
We also wanted to know why the new boss — who officially took over just 11 days earlier — hadn’t used local accommodation.
We were referred back to the force’s original statement, which said: “The Chief Constable has acknowledged she made an error of judgement and apologised.”
But Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay insisted rank- and-file cops deserve answers.
He said: “Police Scotland and its oversight body appear content with a ‘nothing to see here’ response.
“But that’s not good enough.
“There are many unanswered questions — including what, if any, consideration was given to the safety of the officer who was ordered to complete this trip in dangerous weather conditions.”
A Scottish Police Authority spokesman said: “Our chair has discussed this with the Chief Constable, who has apologised.
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“We consider the matter closed.”
Durham cops said: “An experienced member of staff attended Police Scotland to offer general advice to the Chief Constable about finance and resources.”
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