Senior cop victimised constable
A FORMER police constable who claimed colleagues waged a secret “black op” against her was victimised by a more senior officer, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Single-mum Karen Harper said she was forced out of her job in Dumfries and Galloway after raising concerns about the way her request for flexible working was handled.
She took her case to an employment tribunal claiming she had been singled out by senior officers, bullied and suffered sexual discrimination.
After a hearing lasting several days, the tribunal dismissed all but one of her allegations. It found that the allegation she was victimised “succeeds in one aspect only”, which centred on comments made by now retired Sergeant Doug Bell to a chief inspector.
Harper said yesterday: “I hope this significant legal victory will lead to greater public scrutiny of Police Scotland’s attitude toward and treatment of women officers.”
The fallout began in 2014 after a neighbour of Harper’s raised concerns about her conduct off-duty. She was transferred to Kirkcudbright and later complained that she had been bullied and harassed by Sgt Bell.
She claimed she was the subject of a smear campaign when officers investigated complaints about her. But the tribunal ruled a failure to investigate might have undermined public confidence in the police.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: “We take whistle-blowing seriously and have set up an independent advice line to provide confidential, expert advice to any officers and staff who have concerns.”