Police Scotland’s new chief constable Philip Gormley has vowed to work collaboratively with the chairman of the body which oversees the force.
Mr Gormley made the pledge after previous tensions between his predecessor Sir Stephen House and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) were raised at Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee.
Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon said Sir Stephen and former SPA chairman Vic Emery “spent their time getting lawyers to work out their job descriptions and to argue what their responsibilities and accountabilities are”.
During a session on an audit report of police accounts, she said the Auditor General had raised the need for “clear lines of accountability and good working relationships”.
Andrew Flanagan, the new SPA chairman, said: “I think those things are essential, I fully agree with the Auditor General in this regard.
“Yes, there were difficulties in the inception of Police Scotland and the SPA about where the demarcation lines of responsibility fell. I think most of that has been sorted out.
“I am satisfied that we will have good relationships going forward.”
Mr Gormley, who took on the role of chief constable last month, said: “I agree with that. My approach will be to work collaboratively and in a complementary manner to the police authority.
“In my experience, that is the only way we are going to generate light rather than heat, and I have no view about the past.
“My approach will be to work in a entirely collaborative manner with the authority, recognising that we have different responsibilities. I have no interest in exchanging formal letters with the chairman.
“I think the relationship needs to be predicated on trust and transparency.”