Gill Imery

Gill Imery has over 36 years of public service experience, all in roles related to criminal justice. A serving police officer for 32 years, Gill carried out a variety of roles across the country. She was a Detective Chief Superintendent in Specialist Crime Division, providing national leadership to achieve consistency in standards and policy across all strands of public protection including rape, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking.

On secondment to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, Gill conducted a review of the provision of forensic medical services for victims of rape and child sexual abuse and authored a report that was the catalyst for a Scottish Government taskforce and funding. Ultimately this led to a change in the law in Scotland, ensuring that all health boards deliver forensic medical services and that victims have access to “self-referral” to request an examination without having to make a report to the police.

She was HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland between 2018 and 2022, responsible for providing independent scrutiny of policing and its governance body, the Scottish Police Authority. In this role, she provided advice to Scottish Ministers, Scottish Government officials and the Scottish Parliament, including giving evidence to Parliamentary Committees.

Since April 2022, Gill has been the external chair to oversee the implementation of recommendations made by an independent review of the response to deaths in prison custody. Throughout this work, she has prioritised the need to hear the views of families.

In July 2022, Gill was awarded an honorary doctorate for services to policing by Edinburgh Napier University.