Our staff work hard to deliver our overarching aim to improve public confidence in policing in Scotland.
Our skilled workforce means we are focused and robust in our approaches, and professional in our delivery.
Skilled teams
Like other police oversight bodies, we employ a blend of staff drawn from police and non-police backgrounds.
We also operate a training scheme for new recruits who have no previous investigatory experience. This has been extremely successful, with many trainees having completed the course and gone on to become Investigators.
Our Senior Management Team
We have an senior team which has a range and depth of experience, with industry knowledge from across the policing and justice sectors.
Laura Paton
Commissioner
Laura was appointed by Scottish Ministers and began her five-year term as Commissioner on 01 April 2025.
She has many years’ experience of scrutinising and supporting improvement in public services, particularly in the justice sector as well as a background in human rights law with a particular focus on the rights of those involved in the criminal justice system and the rights of children and young people.
Our Commissioner has also previously served as HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution, inspecting the service delivered by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, including how it manages criminal allegations against the police and the quality of the service provided to victims and witnesses.
Previously, she was involved in the independent inspection of policing and places of detention, including prisons and police custody.
Phil Chapman
Director of Operations
Phil Chapman was appointed the Director of Operations on 12th July 2021.
He has extensive experience as a Senior Detective in the Police Service, having served for over 30 years, retiring as the Head of the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit of Police Scotland. In that role he also held the responsibility for Borders Policing Command, Economic Crime as well as Cybercrime, Digital Forensics and Specialist Covert deployments.
Throughout his career, he has led many murder investigations as well as conducting significant major crime reviews. He spent five years deployed under mutual aid provisions to the PSNI, leading a team conducting investigations into historical ‘Troubles’ related matters in Northern Ireland.
He also has a detailed knowledge of police misconduct procedures having managed many criminal and conduct investigations into police officers. For seven years he performed the role of independent ‘Chair’ in Police Misconduct Hearings, sitting in the quasi-judicial process considering evidence in a wide range of allegations.
Raymond Brown
Head of Investigations
Raymond Brown was appointed as Head of Investigations in October 2023.
He joined PIRC from Police Scotland where he retired as Detective Chief Superintendent and Head of Local Crime. In this role he provided strategic support and direction to all Local Policing divisions Criminal Investigation Departments (CID).
Raymond has extensive experience across all aspects of criminal investigation and public protection. Specialising in investigation of serious and complex crime, he has successfully led high profile homicide investigations, cold case investigations and major crime reviews. He has undertaken the role as strategic lead for many specialist investigative portfolios, including investigative interviewing, crime scene management and forensics.
Ilya Zharov
Head of Reviews and Policy
Ilya Zharov was appointed as the Head of Reviews and Policy in September 2016. He is a qualified solicitor who has extensive experience in private legal practice in the Glasgow area.
His principal area of interest is in Criminal Law, having previously been employed both with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and in Criminal defence work.
Sharon Smit
Head of Corporate Services
Sharon Smit was appointed as the Head of HR and Corporate Services in June 2017. She gained her first degree in Hospitality Management after graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University, before going on to work in the sector both internationally and in the UK.
Sharon moved into HR while living in the Netherlands, graduating with an MSc in Human Resources Development from the University of Twente in 2006. She has worked in a variety of HR positions and joined PIRC from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) where she was an HR Business Partner.
Statutory Advisory Board
Our Statutory Advisory Board helps to deliver our strategic vision.
Maureen Mallon
Chair
Maureen Mallon is an experienced public sector leader who has contributed to a wide range of boards, committees and organisations - and is committed to inspiring public confidence in public bodies.
Her career spans local and national third sector organisations including as YouthLink Scotland’s Deputy CEO and Head of National Development programmes.
Appointed in 2003 as an HMI focussed on community learning and local authorities, Ms Mallon became an Assistant Director in Education Scotland.
She then served as CEO of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) in 2019 and led a substantial change programme.
Michelle Wailes
Michelle is an experienced Non Executive Director and Audit & Risk Committee Chair with over two decades in governance, audit, risk and financial oversight. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, her executive career included senior governance and audit roles. Michelle is recognised for her strategic insight, constructive challenge and commitment to public value, transparency and assurance in public sector organisations.
John McCroskie
John has over 30 years of executive experience in public bodies, central government, and the private sector. He worked for over 12 years in the Scottish Government on the presentation of policy, primarily in health and criminal justice. He then spent over a decade in leadership roles in policing, with a focus on organisational change and public accountability.
Gary Stewart
Gary has extensive senior-level assurance experience across the public sector. His professional background spans government, regulators, charities, energy and professional practice, providing him with a strong understanding of the requirements for effective accountability in public bodies. Gary contributes a clear, evidence-based approach to governance and risk assurance to support effective policing oversight and inspire public confidence.
Alan Wright
Alan is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Board Member with a strong track record across the public sector, specialising in corporate governance, organisational change and risk oversight. Currently serving as a Board Member with The Scottish Mental Welfare Commission and the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, his roles involve strategic leadership and robust governance.