Hamilton chosen as Scottish Information Commissioner

David Hamilton, former chair of the Scottish Police Federation, is to be nominated as the new Scottish Information Commissioner.

The Scottish Parliament will this week be invited to agree that Mr Hamilton should fill the role, prior to his nomination going to the King for appointment. His selection follows an open recruitment process.

Mr Hamilton will succeed Darren Fitzhenry, who has held the position since 2017 and completes his term of office in October this year. The appointment is for a fixed term of six years, on a starting salary of £77,260.

The Scottish Information Commissioner promotes and enforces the freedom of information regime under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, hearing appeals by people seeking information and promoting good practice amongst public authorities.

Mr Hamilton recently retired from the Police Service of Scotland after nearly 27 years. He served as chair of the Scottish Police Federation, representing 18,000 Scottish police officers. An engineering graduate of Glasgow University, he was a founding director of 1919 magazine, and is an experienced aid worker, treasurer of anti-hate charity Remembering Srebrenica Scotland, and chair of his local community council.