EX-DETECTIVE LIFTS LID ON SLOPPY COPS
Steven claims evidence storage was chaotic
A FORMER detective has lifted the lid on the “chaotic” storage of serious crimes evidence at a Scots CID office.
Steven Russell says he was shocked by mismanagement of files in Falkirk police station. He fears evidence could have been lost among materials relating to offences like murders and rapes.
The ex-detective constable said he was tasked with bringing order to the windowless basement used by CID for storage.
Steven, 30, claimed DNA samples were thrown out because they weren’t kept in a freezer while unlabelled evidence had to be discarded.
He said he found photos of babies who suffered infant deaths tipped in a box. Steven, who lives near Falkirk with his wife and daughter, two, worked in the basement at West Bridge Street on restricted duties.
He was being investigated for an alleged data protection breach. The case was dropped by the Crown but Steven believes he was driven from his job after lodging a compensation claim against Police Scot- land for a needle stick injury. Steven said: “The basement is massive. I found hundreds of misconduct reports, supposed to be under lock and key, lying about for everyone to see.
“I discovered hundreds of bags of drugs, including heroin, stuffed in a black bag.”
Steven said he uncovered mobile phones and bloody clothing, also unlabelled.
He added: “I reported all this to line management. But it was treated as a big joke. Important evidence could’ve been lost. It was an absolute disgrace.”
Steven, who joined the force at 21, claims he was bullied and targeted after the compensation bid.
He said: “After the claim went in, I was pulled in over the data protection matter.” Steven was accused of looking up information on a police computer for an acquaintance. He maintains there was “no evidence”.
But he was signed off sick with stress after being told the matter would be reinvestigated internally.
Told the alleged breach was being considered “gross misconduct” and facing the sack, Steven resigned in June.
A Police Scotland spokesman said “clear instructions” to officers were given on storage, with “significant emphasis placed on the need to properly preserve and catalogue evidence”.
They said a formal complaint about the alleged data breach was made last May – the same day Steven’s solicitor dated a letter raising the compensation claim.